Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Schwarz, Rudolf, 1866-1912, sculptor.

MacMonnies, Frederick William, 1863-1937, sculptor.

Schmitz, Bruno, 1858-1916, designer.

Brewster, George Thomas, 1862-1943, sculptor.

Geiger, Nicolaus, 1849-1897, sculptor.

Terre Haute Stone Company, fabricator.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, (sculpture).

Spirit of Indiana, (sculpture).

War and Peace, (sculpture).

1887-1901. Cornerstone laid Aug. 22, 1889. Dedicated May 15, 1902.

Digital Reference:

Bedford limestone.

Approx. H. 284 ft. x Diam. 110 ft.

A huge limestone shaft carved with military and allegorical figures is topped with a bronze figure of Victory perched above a glass-enclosed observation deck. The terrace around the monument features four giant bronze lamps adorned with symbols of Indiana pioneers. Below the terrace, water cascades over the steps of two semicircular fountain basins.

At the base of the monument, the north and south sides of the shaft feature large limestone inscription tablets, each surmounted by the head of Victory and guarded by free-standing military figures. On the south side, an infantryman and a cavalryman flank the inscription dedicated to those who served in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. On the north side, an artilleryman and a sailor flank the inscription dedicated to those who served in the Mexican War, the War of 1812, and the Revolutionary War.

The east and west sides at the base of the shaft each feature a large relief and a free-standing figure group. On the west side, the relief symbolizes War and the figure group depicts "The Dying Soldier," a scene of two soldiers assisting their wounded comrade. And on the east side, the relief symbolizes Peace and the figure group depicts "The Return Home," a scene of a soldier returning to his family.

As the limestone shaft rises from the base, it is adorned with a bronze astragal in high relief showing the Army's horses and cannons in the throes of war. Above this is a less elaborate bronze astragal adorned with famous Navy ships and sailors. The shaft itself is adorned on each side with a column of tiny rectangular windows for lighting the interior staircase. Above the column of windows, the shaft is marked with a nearly plain bronze astragal band containing the dates 1861 on two sides and 1865 on two sides.

At the top of the monument, the glass observation deck tapers to a point on which stands a bronze female figure of Victory with an eagle perched on her head. She holds a sword in her proper right hand and a torch in her proper left hand.

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- Spanish American War

History -- United States -- Mexican War

History -- United States -- War of 1812

History -- United States -- Revolution

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Allegory -- Civic -- War

Allegory -- Civic -- Peace

Outdoor Sculpture -- Indiana -- Indianapolis

Administered by State of Indiana, Indiana War Memorials Commission, 431 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Located Indiana War Memorial, Monument Circle, Indianapolis, Indiana

The $598,318 cost of the monument was paid with funds raised by the Grand Army of the Republic and the Monument Bill signed by Governor Isaac P. Gray on March 3, 1887. The monument was designed by Bruno Schmitz and the limestone sculpture was created by Rudolf Schwarz. Nicolaus Geiger created the large bronze astragal at the base of the shaft and George Brewster created the other two bronze astragals. Frederick MacMonnies was commissioned to do the War and Peace groupings. Some repairs to the monument were made in 1905 and the monument underwent restoration in 1989-1990. IAS files contain a copy of the National Register of Historic Place nomination form completed in 1972; an article from The Indianapolis Star Magazine, July 8, 1962, pg. 6-8; and a small flyer entitled "Step into the Proud Past, Indiana Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, 1976.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, IN0033, 1989.

Monumental News, Jan., March, June 1894; Jan. 1895; April, Oct. 1905; March 1913; and Feb. 1923.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Indiana survey, 1993.

Monumental News, Feb. 1923, cover.

Monumental News, Jan. 1894, pg. 23.

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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