Dan Rice Civil War Memorial, (sculpture).

Dan Rice Civil War Memorial, (sculpture).

Volk, Leonard Wells, 1828-1895, sculptor.

Dan Rice Civil War Memorial, (sculpture).

1865. Dedicated Nov. 1, 1865. Rededicated 1965.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: white marble; Base: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. H. 16 ft. 7 in.; Base: approx. 19 x 104 x 105 in.

L.W. VOLK CHICAGO (Panel on north side of monument, incised lettering:) IN MEMORY/OF THE/OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS/FROM/ERIE COUNTY PENN:/WHO HAVE DIED/IN DEFENSE OF THEIR COUNTRY (Panel on south side of monument, incised lettering:) ERECTED BY/DAN RICE/---/INAUGURATED/NOV. 1, 1865 signed

A Civil War monument consisting of an eagle perched atop a tall, flag-draped column. Below the column is a square section adorned with Corinthian columns on the corners and military reliefs on each side. The relief on the west side is of crossed bayonets, on the north side is of crossed sabers, on the east side is of crossed cannons, and on the south side is of an anchor. The monument rests on a low square base in an oval-shaped highway median with an urn and cannon at either end.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Girard

Administered by Girard Borough, Main Street, Girard, Pennsylvania 16417

Located Wells Park, Girard, Pennsylvania

The monument commemorates the Civil War soldiers of Erie County, Pennsylvania. It cost $6,000 and was erected by "Colonel" Dan Rice (1823-1900), a colorful circus man, promoter, and impresario, from Girard, Pennsylvania. Rice wanted to erect the first Civil War monument in the country, and controversy arose when he had his name inscribed on it. For related reading see: Harper's Weekly (Nov. 25, 1865), which includes a discussion of the dedication. IAS files contain an article from Pennsylvania Heritage 12 (Fall 1986): pg. 10-15 that includes a discussion of the dedication.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania survey, 1995.

Pennsylvania Heritage 12 (Fall 1986): pg. 14.

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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