Peace Monument, (sculpture).

Peace Monument, (sculpture).

Mulligan, Charles J., 1866-1916, sculptor.

Dodd, Charles, carver.

Wemhoff, George, engineer.

Wemhoff Monumental Works, fabricator.

Peace Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers Memorial, (sculpture).

Soldiers' Monument, (sculpture).

Adams County Soldiers' Memorial, (sculpture).

1912-1913. Dedicated Oct. 30, 1913.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: Bedford limestone and metal; Base: Bedford limestone.

Sculpture: approx. 16 ft. x 29 ft. x 8 ft. 6 in.; Base: approx. 2 1/2 ft. x 42 ft. 6 in. x 18 ft. 6 in.

(On rear of cenotaph:) (Left side:) TO THE GLORY OF OUR COUNTRY/AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF/OUR SOLDIER HEROS (sic) (Center:) TO THE WOMEN OF OUR NATION/AS A TRIBUTE TO THEIR/COURAGE DEVOTION AND SACRIFICE (On metal plaque below:) IN MEMORIAM/U.S.S.MAINE (On front of cenotaph, on two large plaques flanking female figure: list of war dead from Adams County) unsigned

An ornate cenotaph with a heroic female representing Peace, on the front, and a relief panel on the rear. Stylized eagles decorate the upper corners of the cenotaph. The female stands in proper left profile dressed in armor, her hair upswept in a bun. She holds a United States shield with her proper left hand, in front of her. The bottom of the shield rests on the ground at her feet. Her full-length garment drapes over the projecting base on which she stands. Her proper right arm is outstretched, resting on a laurel twig on top of four furled flags that rest horizontally across the top center of the cenotaph. A sword in scabbard is strapped to her proper left side and hangs behind the shield.

The rear of the cenotaph contains a high relief featuring a battlefield nurse treating a wounded soldier. Below the relief is a deep trough that once served as a basin for the fountain. A tablet formed from metal taken from the battleship Maine also appears on the rear side of the cenotaph. Around the base of the sculpture is a curved bench. The sculpture is mounted upon a long, stepped base. Stone plant pedestals are placed on top of the base in front of the cenotaph on either side of the female figure.

History -- United States -- Military history

History -- United States -- Revolution

History -- United States -- War of 1812

History -- United States -- Mexican War

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- Spanish American War

Portrait female -- Van Slyke, Margaret McMasters -- Full length

Allegory -- Civic -- Peace

Dress -- Historic -- Armor

Object -- Foliage -- Laurel

Dress -- Accessory -- Shield

Object -- Other -- Flag

Object -- Weapon -- Sword

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Occupation -- Medicine -- Nurse

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

State of Being -- Illness -- Wound

Outdoor Sculpture -- Indiana -- Decatur

Administered by Adams County Commissioners, Adams County Courthouse, Decatur, Indiana 46733

Located Adams County Courthouse, Southwest corner of lawn, Decatur, Indiana

The sculpture is a tribute to peace and the women of the Civil War. The sculpture also pays tribute to soldiers who served in all wars. Tablets on the sculpture specifically honor those soldiers who were killed during the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War and the Spanish American War. Decatur citizen French Quinn spearheaded the movement to build the sculpture. It was installed under the auspices of the Sam Henry Post of the Grand Army of the Republic and John H. Heller with an appropriation of $10,000 by Adams County. Margaret McMasters Van Slyke of Chicago was the model for the female figure representing Peace. The sculpture originally functioned as a fountain. It was designed by Charles J. Mulligan and carved by Charles M. Dodd. George Wemhoff served as chief engineer for the project. Wemhoff Monumental Works of Decatur constructed the sculpture.

In 1991, the sculpture was restored, cleaned and coated with a protective sealor by JRS Builders (Preble, IN). IAS files contain only an image of the front of the sculpture. IAS files contain related articles from the Decatur Daily Democrat, Oct. 11, 1913, July 11, 1972, and March 8, 1991; and various related materials.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Indiana survey, 1993.

Monumental News, Feb., March, Dec. 1913.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, IN5013, 1989.

Decatur Daily Democrat, July 11, 1972.

Monumental News, Dec. 1913, pg. 852-853.

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

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System