Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Haldy, Lewis, designer.

Messrs. Batterson, Canfield, & Company, fabricator.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Penn Square Monument, (sculpture).

Commissioned Nov. 4, 1872. Dedicated July 4, 1874.

Sculpture: Westerly or granite or Rhode Island granite; Base: Westerly or Rhode Island granite.

Sculpture: approx. 43 x 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 ft.; Each figure at base: approx. H. 6 ft.; Base: approx. 2 ft. 6 1/2 in. x 20 ft. 5 in. x 20 ft. 5 in.

(On north side of base:) ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF/LANCASTER COUNTY,/TO THE MEMORY OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS WHO FELL/IN DEFENSE OF THE UNION/IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION/1861-1865/ERECTED 1874/ON THIS SPOT STOOD THE COURTHOUSE/IN WHICH THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS MET SEPT. 27, 1777. (On central pillar, names of Civil War battlefields) (Plaque on east side of protective base:) DEDICATED TO THOSE/VIETNAM VETERANS/WHO SERVED HONORABLY DURING THE PERIOD OF/AUG. 5, 1964 MAY 7, 1975 (Plaque on north side:) HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRUST SITE - LANCASTER COUNTY

Tall rectangular multi-tiered shaft topped by a female figure representing Liberty, holding a shield in her proper left hand and a sheathed sword, pointed downward, in her proper right hand. A Victory garland encircles her head. At the bottom of the monument on separate bases are four military figures-a Union Calvary officer, an infantryman, an artillery man, and a navy sailor, all dressed in uniform.

The cavalryman holds a lowered sword; the infantryman grasps the end of a musket-butt; the artillery man grasps a cannon plunger with both hands, with two cannon balls behind him; the sailor stands with arms across his chest, a coil of rope behind him. A bronze table with a profile likeness of Abraham Lincoln and text of the Gettysburg Address, and plaques for World War and Vietnam veterans were later additions to the monument.

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- Military history

Figure female -- Full length

Allegory -- Civic -- Liberty

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Portrait male -- Lincoln, Abraham -- Profile

Literature -- Lincoln -- Gettysburg Address

Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Lancaster

Administered by City of Lancaster, Parks Department, 120 North Duke Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603

Located Penn Square, At intersection of King & Queen Streets, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The monument was erected in 1874 to honor Lancaster County natives who died in the Civil War. The idea originated in 1867, at a meeting of the Soldiers and Sailors Union, which elected the Lancaster County Monument Association. The Patriot Daughters of Lancaster raised $3,500; and County military taxes also helped towards the total cost of $26,000. The monument was dedicated on July 4, 1874. (Penn Square was then known as Centre Square).

In 1877, a granite wall enclosure and iron fence were added to the memorial. On June 8th, 1931, the Gettysburg address tablet and Lincoln's likeness were added. In 1905 and 1924, the monument was sandblasted, and in 1956 new lights were installed. When a new traffic plan was developed for Penn Square in 1972, the monument base area was reduced from its original 35 to 17 feet, the iron railing removed and granite curbing and lighting added. In May 1973, the memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places. On Nov. 12, 1978, the memorial was hit by a car, the sailor's base and legs later repaired with cement.

IAS files contain copy of lighting fund raising appeal brochure; and articles from Journal of Lancaster County Historical Society, vol. 65, 1961, pg. 153-171; Lancaster Sunday News, June 30, 1974, pg. 1,3; Lancaster New Era, Aug. 19, 1994, A-10, and Nov. 13, 1978, pg. 4; and partial transcript of articles from Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, Feb. 11, 1977; and Lancaster New Era, Nov. 13, 1978 and July 18, 1979.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania survey, 1994.

Lancaster Sunday News, June 30, 1974.

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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