Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Dallin, Cyrus Edwin, 1861-1944, sculptor.

Blackall, Clarence H., 1857-1942, architect.

Gruet, founder.

Booth Bros., contractor.

Jaboeuf & Rouard Fondeurs, founder.

Hurricane Isle Granite Co., contractor.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Civil War Memorial, (sculpture).

Cornerstone laid: May 31, 1909. Dedicated June 21, 1910.

Sculpture: bronze; Base: Waterford, Connecticut white granite.

Approx. H. 75 ft.; Plaza: 150 x 50 ft.

(On east side:) TO THE BRAVE SONS OF ONONDAGA WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY ON LAND AND SEA THAT THE UNION MIGHT BE PRESERVED AND THE CONSTITUTION MAINTAINED (On west side:) THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THE GRATEFUL PEOPLE OF ONONDAGA IN APPRECIATION OF THE GLORIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MEN WHO VOUNTEERED THEIR SERVICES IN DEFENSE OF THE FLAG AND FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATION. 1861-1865. MAY THEIR EXAMPLE SPEAK TO FUTURE GENERATIONS

(On the north side:) BENEATH THIS STONE ARE THE NAMES OF 12,265 VOLUNTEERS OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. THIS MONUMENT STANDS AS A TRIBUTE TO THE BRAVE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF THE REPUBLIC -WHOSE NAMES AND HEROIC DEEDS ARE GRAVEN DEEP IN THE HEARTS OF THEIR COUNTRY. WE HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE THAT THESE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN. THAT HIS NATION UNDER GOD SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH. -ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

A tall white granite monument surmounted by four eagles holding aloft a large sphere. The granite shaft is adorned with four granite unfluted Roman Ionic columns at each corner and decorated with two bronze reliefs depicting scenes from the Civil War. On the east side of the monument, "The Call to Arms" relief depicts an infantryman with his musket, a sailor with his sword drawn, an artilleryman with his cannon and cannon tamper, and a cavalryman holding the reins of a rearing horse. A female figure hovers over the figures holding the American Flag and blowing a trumpet to sound the call to war. On the west side of the monument, "Mending the Flag" depicts the moment during the Battle of Gettysburg when William G. Lilly, the color bearer in Pickett's army, repairs the broken flagstaff of New York's 149th regiment. His fellow soldiers rallying around him to save the day, as General Pickett astride his horse commands his men with sword held high. The monument is placed within a larger stepped plaza setting with cast iron lighting.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Architecture -- Military -- Battlefield

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Object -- Weapon -- Sword

Object -- Musical Instrument -- Trumpet

Object -- Other -- Flag

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- Syracuse

Administered by City of Syracuse, Department of Parks and Recreation, 412 Spencer Street, Syracuse, New York 13204

Located Clinton Square, Genesee & Erie Boulevard, Syracuse, New York

On Dec. 12, 1905, thanks in part to the efforts of Mrs. Harriet Schwartz whose older brother was killed during the Civil War, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution committing itself to erecting a Civil War monument, and authorized a chairman to appoint a monument committee. Between 1906 and 1909, the Board of Supervisors made several appropriations to fund the monument, the cost of which eventually topped $100,000. A small amount of the funding had been raised earlier by Mrs. Harriet Schwartz who organized donations from school children ($238.38) and a benefit concert ($229.50).

The bronze reliefs were cast in France at the Gruet Bronze Foundry ("Call to Arms") and the Jaboeuf & Rouard Fondeurs ("Mending the Flag"). At the time of the dedication, however, only one bronze relief was in place; "Mending the Flag" arrived later and was not installed until June 23, 1911.

When originally built, the Beaux-Arts style monument was the centerpiece for a large stone plaza with formal granite piers and walls surrounding it. Since then, the plaza has been reduced in size and relandscaping done. In each of the four corners of the plaza are reconstructed granite piers from the original wall. Each of the piers has a cast iron light standard dating from subsequent modifications.

IAS files contain newspaper articles from the Syracuse Herald-Journal, May 29, 1978 and June 12, 1960; and the Syracuse Herald-American, Sept 15, 1968.

Onondaga County Public Library, 1988.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NY0284, 1989.

Monumental News, Aug. 1908; Jan. and Aug. 1910.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York survey, 1994.

Ted Bartlett, Crawford & Stearns: Architects and Preservation Planners, 1999.

Onondaga County Public Library..., "Public Art in Syracuse and Onondaga County," 1985, pg. 10.

Monumental News, Aug. 1910, pg. 563.

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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