(Samuel J. Tilden Monument), (sculpture).

(Samuel J. Tilden Monument), (sculpture).

Flagg, Ernest, 1857-1947, architect.

(Samuel J. Tilden Monument), (sculpture).

1895. Rededicated Nov. 4, 1984.

Digital Reference:

(Incised on rim of sarcophagus, facing west:) I STILL TRUST THE PEOPLE (Incised on west face of sarcophagus:) SAMUEL J. TILDEN (Incised on rim of sarcophagus, facing east:)GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK (Incised on the rims at each end of the sarcophagus:) BORN MDCCCXIV/DIED MDCCCLXXXVI

Beaux-Arts style tomb consists of a sarcophagus which rests on a low, tiered pyramid of blocks. The sarcophagus and its base have several decorative relief elements including garlands, acanthus leaves, Roman masonry and monumental lettering. There are lions' heads on all sides of the sarcophagus.

Homage -- Tilden, Samuel J.

Occupation -- Political -- Governor

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- New Lebanon

Cemetery of the Evergreens, New Lebanon, New York

The monument stands over the grave of Samuel Tilden (1814-1886), Governor of New York in 1874 and Presidential candidate in 1876. Cast bronze olive branches were originally part of the monument. These were vandalized and stolen and have since been recovered. Major restoration work was done on the monument from Aug.-Oct. 1984 by the Hill Engineering Company of Dalton, MA and the Craib Construction Company of Berlin, NY. Repairs to the monument were primarily structural, since the work, especially the peripheral portions, had significantly shifted due to frost heaves and had not settled back properly. IAS files contain detailed information about the monument's history and restoration in two 1984 essays, "A Monument to American Idealism in Politics and Architecture," by Carl John Black and "The Reconstruction of the Famous Samuel Tilden Monument 98 Years after his Death," by Reverend Ernest Smith.

Nearby plaque reads: THIS MONUMENT, BUILT IN 1895 IN HONOR OF/GOVERNOR SAMUEL JONES TILDEN/RESTORED AND REDEDICATED NOVEMBER 4, 1984/BY GRANTS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK/AND FROM THE TOWN OF NEW LEBANON/AND BY DONATIONS FROM/FRANK AND HARRIETT KOHRS/SHUJI AND MICHIKO UCHIYAMA/AND DEDICATED FRIENDS/THE RESTORATION COMMITTEE/BARBARA FELTER ANGELA RAWSON/ELBERT THOMAS MARJORIE LINDHOLM/REVEREND ERNEST SMITH, CHAIRMAN

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York survey, 1994.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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