Mexican War Monument, (sculpture).

Mexican War Monument, (sculpture).

Alricks, Hamilton, Jr., sculptor.

McFadden, John, sculptor.

Mexican War Monument, (sculpture).

Modeled 1867. Column 1868. Figure of Victory 1869. Relocated 1894.

Digital Reference:

Figure of Victory and eagles: Italian marble; Column: Maryland marble; Base: marble and granite.

Overall: approx. H. 64 ft.; Figure of Victory: approx. H. 10 ft. 4 in.

(On base:) Hamilton Alricks, Jr., architect J. McFadden, Builder. (Front plaque:) Erected/By the State of Pennsylvania/1868/Commemorative of Her Citizens/Who lost their lives/During the War with Mexico/in 1846, 47 + 48/"City of Mexico" (Other plaques list battle sites) signed

A tall, fluted Corinthian column topped by an allegorical female figure representing Victory. The winged figure of Victory stands atop a broken timber with her proper right leg atop a cannon. She holds an American flag in her proper left hand. The square marble base of the Corinthian column features marble eagles installed at each corner. The marble base rests on a square granite base with four steps.

History -- United States -- Mexican War

Figure female -- Full length

Allegory -- Other -- Triumph

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Harrisburg

Administered by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Capitol Preservation Committee, Room 30, Capitol Annex Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Located Pennsylvania State Capitol, Capitol Park, southeast quadrant, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

A monument to Pennsylvania's veterans of the Mexican War was first commissioned in 1858, but it was not until 1867, after a debate over the cost and design, that the proposal submitted by Hamilton Alricks was selected. Erection of the monument began in 1868, and the figure of Victory arrived in March 1869. In 1894, due to construction, the monument was moved to its current site from its original location south of the Hills South office building. The monument originally sat on a small mound, but in 1981 the area around the base was reconstructed and a retaining wall was built. In 1991-1992, structural deficiencies on the monument were corrected.

Originally, there was an iron fence around the base of the monument, and the fence pickets were made of muskets used by United States soldiers during the Mexican War. Also, several cannons, two captured from Mexican forces during the war and other, and brass field pieces from the American Revolution, were positioned in front of the monument. Both the fence and the artillery pieces have been removed.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania survey, 1994.

Inventory staff, 2000.

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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