Wars of America, (sculpture).

Wars of America, (sculpture).

Borglum, Gutzon, 1867-1941, sculptor.

Unknown (Italy), founder.

Wars of America, (sculpture).

1924. Dedicated May 31, 1926. Rededicated May 30, 1990.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.

Sculpture: approx. W. 40 ft.; Base: approx. W. 40 ft.

Gutzon Borglum/1924 signed

This massive bronze monument commemorating America's land and naval forces participating in wars up through World War I, is composed of forty-two figures representing both civilians and military men from all branches of the service. Included among the figures are a Red Cross nurse, a conscientious objector, fathers and mothers seeing their sons off to war, and a portrait of the monument's benefactor, Amos H. Van Horn, as a mustachioed Union Army soldier. The artist even included figures modeled after himself and his son, Lincoln. The figures, along with two horses, serge forward in a massive line as they make their way up a steep incline. The monument is installed at the end of a long reflecting pool that takes the shape of a Tudor sword, as seen from the air, with the monument as its handle. The base of the monument is composed of large granite blocks.

History -- United States -- Revolution

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- Spanish American War

History -- United States -- World War I

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Occupation -- Medicine -- Nurse

Portrait male -- Van Horn, Amos H.

Occupation -- Other -- Businessman

Occupation -- Transportation -- Pilot

Portrait male -- Mitchel, John Purroy

Animal -- Horse

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Jersey -- Newark

Administered by City of Newark, Department of Engineering, 970 Broad Street, City Hall, Newark, New Jersey 07102

Located Military Park, Newark, New Jersey

The monument was funded through a $150,000 bequest of Amos H. Van Horn. The sculpture was rededicated in 1990 after a two year restoration by the Cavalier Renaissance Foundry of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

IAS files contain hand-written transcriptions of the inscriptions appearing on a base plaque and on two plaques embedded in the ground surrounding the monument. IAS files also contain newspaper articles from The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), Oct. 12, 1987, pg. N3; May 21, 1990; May 24, 1990, pg. 33-44; and May 31, 1990. The May 31, 1990 Star-Ledger clipping discusses the rededication of the newly restored monument. The artist's daughter is quoted as confirming a legend that the owner of the Italian foundry responsible for casting the monument, hid two cases of champagne in the heads of the horses as a gift for Borglum during Prohibition times. For additional information on the monument see also: the Newark Museum Quarterly (Winter 1975) and the Newark Evening News, June 1, 1926.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

"Newark Museum Quarterly," Newark, N.J.: Newark Museum Association, Winter 1975.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NJ5014, 1989.

Monumental News, Nov. and Dec. 1922.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Jersey survey, 1995.

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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Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

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