Hiker, (sculpture).

Hiker, (sculpture).

Kitson, Theo Alice Ruggles, 1871-1932, sculptor.

Gridley, C. N., contractor.

Gorham Manufacturing Company, founder.

Charles N. Gardner & Sons, contractor.

Brown & Lowe, contractor.

Hiker, (sculpture).

Dedicated May 30, 1921.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite; Foundation: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. 8 ft. 5 in. x 76 in. x 36 in.; Base: approx. 5 ft. 6 in. x 10 ft. x 7 ft.

Atop a boulder stands a figure of a uniformed Spanish American War soldier holding his rifle horizontally in front of him with both hands. The sleeves of his shirt are rolled up and he wears a wide-brimmed hat and a cartridge belt. A knapsack rests on his rear proper left hip and a canteen on his rear proper right hip. The monument is enclosed by a wrought-iron fence.

History -- United States -- Spanish American War

History -- United States -- Philippine Insurrection

History -- United States -- China Relief Expedition

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- Schenectady

Administered by City of Schenectady, Department of Parks & Recreation, 105 Jay Street, City Hall, Schenectady, New York 12305

Located Central Park, Memorial Drive, southwest side, Schenectady, New York

The monument commemorates the soldiers of Schenectady County, New York, who served in the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and the China Relief Expedition. It cost $4,392.42 and was erected by the General Eugene Griffin Camp No. 11, United Spanish War Veterans, and the Board of Supervisors of Schenectady County. It was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1921. The granite boulder is probably glacial and was taken from the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, near Wilton, New York. C. N. Gridley moved the boulder and placed it on the concrete foundation. Charles N. Gardner & Sons cut the boulder and mounted the sculpture and the original base plaque, which is now missing. The base plaque read: "FREEDOM PATRIOTISM HUMANITY/ERECTED BY THE/COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY/COMMEMORATING THE VALOR/AND PATRIOTISM OF THE MEN OF THIS/COUNTY WHO SERVED IN THE WAR WITH/SPAIN PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION AND/CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION 1898-1902/DEDICATED MAY 30, 1921 UNDER THE AUSPICES OF/GENERAL EUGENE CAMP NO. 11/UNITED SPANISH WAR VETERANS AND THE/BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SCHENECTADY COUNTY." IAS files contain: copy of dedication program; correspondence dated Sept. 3, 1921 from the publication Monumental News (Madison, WI).

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York survey, 1994.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NY5028, 1989.

Monumental News, Nov. 1921, pg. 788.

Monumental News, Nov. 1921, cover.

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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