The Hiker, (sculpture).

The Hiker, (sculpture).

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

Gorham Manufacturing Company, founder.

The Hiker, (sculpture).

Dedicated Nov. 23, 1941.

Digital Reference:

Figure: bronze; Base: grey granite.

Figure: approx. 90 x 65 x 28 in.; Base: approx. 66 x 72 x 72 in.

(On bronze plaque on front of base, raised:) THIS MEMORIAL PRESENTED BY THE CITY OF MERIDEN/TO THE VETERANS OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR (This plaque also lists names of 206 veterans, including 110 veterans of Company L, First Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry; 64 other veterans who enlisted from Meriden, Connecticut; and 32 names of veterans from C. B. Bowen Camp, no. 2, U.S.W.V.) (Bronze plaque on back of base is in the form of concentric circles in a Greek cross surrounding three figures, in relief. Central figure is a young woman kneeling before a Hiker on her proper left and a sailor on her proper right. A battleship is in the background. Within concentric circles, raised:) SPANISH WAR VETERANS 1898-1902 (In upper section of Greek cross, raised:) CUBA (In right section of Greek cross, raised:) PORTO-RICO (In lower section of Greek cross, raised:) U.S.A. (In left section of Greek cross, raised:) PHILIPPINE/ISLANDS unsigned

Standing male figure of a Spanish American War soldier. His arms hang nearly straight down, holding a rifle. His proper right hand is at the bolt, while his proper left hand is at the barrel. He wears a wide-brimmed soft hat, shirt open at the neck, and sleeves rolled up above the elbows. The bottom legs of his trousers are tucked at the knees into the tops of leggings which he wears on his lower legs. A cartridge belt encircles his waist and webbed straps cross his chest. A knapsack is slung over his proper right shoulder to his proper left hip; the knapsack bears the lettering U S VOL, flanking crossed rifles. A canteen is at his proper right hip. His face is clean shaven and his mouth is closed.

History -- United States -- Spanish American War

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Figure male -- Full length

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Outdoor Sculpture -- Connecticut -- Meriden

Administered by City of Meriden, Department of Parks & Recreation, 460 Liberty Street, Meriden, Connecticut 06450

Located Opposite 437 Broad Street, Meriden, Connecticut

Erected by the Meriden City Council in 1941 for $3,000. IAS files contain related article from Meriden Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), Feb. 17, 1987. Article discusses study of the sculpture for the National Acid Rain Precipitation Assessment Program, and funding for the erection of the sculpture. IAS visual reference file includes photographs of the sculpture and its base, including photograph of plaque on front of base listing 206 names of Spanish American War veterans; many of the names are legible in photograph.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Connecticut survey, 1993.

Meriden Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), Feb. 17, 1987.

Meriden Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), Feb. 17, 1987.

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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