Uncle Sam Monument, (sculpture).

Uncle Sam Monument, (sculpture).

Kratina, George, sculptor.

Uncle Sam Monument, (sculpture).

Copyrighted 1980. Dedicated Oct. 18, 1980.

Digital Reference:

Sheet and cast aluminum.

Sculpture: approx. 12 ft. x 71 in. x 64 in.; Base: approx. 26 x 39 x 39 in.

K. George Kratina (On plaque on front of base:) UNCLE SAM/WILSON/1766 1854/OF/TROY - NEW YORK/BORN IN ARLINGTON MASS (On plaque on right side of base:) SAM WILSON - ONE OF/THE PRIME MOVERS FOR/INCORPORATION OF/TROY AS VILLAGE - 1794/CITY - 1816 (On plaque on back of base:) TROY'S CITIZEN/AMERICA'SUNCLE/THE BIG THING IS NOT WHAT/HAPPENS TO US IN LIFE - BUT/WHAT WE DO ABOUT/WHAT HAPPENS TO US./SAM WILSON (On plaque on left side of base:) U.S. OF AMERICA/N A/C M/L ORIGINATED DURING/E WAR OF 1812 signed

A male figure representing the national symbol, "Uncle Sam," stands atop a square aluminum base that rests on a circular brick base. The figure wears a billowing cape and stands in front of a barrel and a pile of bricks. He carries a top hat in his proper left hand and he rests his proper right hand on the lapel of his jacket.

Portrait male -- Wilson, Samuel -- Full length

Occupation -- Political

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- Troy

City of Troy, City Manager, Troy City Hall, Monument Square, Troy, New York 12180

Located River, Front & Fulton Streets, Troy, New York

During the War of 1812, a government supplies inspector named Samuel Wilson was responsible for inspecting provisions and for stencilling the letters U.S. on all provisions that passed inspection. Soon the nickname "Uncle Sam" was coined. But it was not until 1852 that cartoons depicting an "Uncle Sam" figure began to appear. Shortly thereafter, the "Uncle Sam" figure was given a beard and stars were added to his costume. The real Samuel Wilson died in 1854 and is buried in Troy's Oakwood Cemetery.

The inscription on a nearby plaque reads: UNCLE SAM MONUMENT COMMITTEE/DEC. 1977 - SEPT. 1980/THIS COMMITTEE, THROUGH ITS/DEDICATION AND PUBLIC SPIRIT/HSA MADE THIS MONUMENT POSSIBLE/ (list of names). The inscription on a second nearby plaque reads: THE CENTURIAN CLUB/THIS MONUMENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE/THROUGH THE CIVIC PRIDE AND/GENEROSITY OF THESE MEMBERS/(list of names). IAS files contain a newspaper article from the Troy Record, Oct. 19, 1980 and a copy of the dedication program.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York survey, 1993.

SOS Assessment Award, 2000.

Troy Record, Oct. 19, 1980.

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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