Soldier's and Sailor's Monument, (sculpture).

Soldier's and Sailor's Monument, (sculpture).

Viquesney, E. M., 1876-1946, sculptor.

Hibbard, Frederick Cleveland, 1881-1950, sculptor.

Burton, J. W., contractor.

Woodbury Granite Company, contractor.

Charles G. Blake Company, contractor.

W. H. Mullins Company, founder.

Soldier's and Sailor's Monument, (sculpture).

Sedgwick County Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument, (sculpture).

Commissioned 1911. Erected 1912. Dedicated June 14, 1913. Rededicated Nov. 11, 2001.

Female figure: hammered copper; Military figures: bronze; Monument structure: Valle Vermont granite; Foundation: concrete; Display cases: grey and black marble.

Overall: approx. H. 50 ft.; Female figure: approx. H. 18 ft.; Soldiers: approx. H. 6 1/2 ft.

(Raised lettering on lintel above north bronze door:) ERECTED A.D. 1912 BY THE/PEOPLE OF SEDGWICK COUNTY, KANSAS/IN MEMORY OF THE/UNION SOLDIERS AND SAILORS/OF THE CIVIL WAR (Raised lettering on panel below Cavalry figure:) THE UNION IS PERPETUAL/ABRAHAM LINCOLN/LET US HAVE PEACE/GEN. GRANT (Raised lettering on lintel above south door:) GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC/FRATERNITY CHARITY LOYALTY (Below sailor:) IF ANY MAN ATTEMPTS TO/HAUL DOWN THE AMERICAN FLAG/SHOOT HIM ON THE SPOT/JOHN A. DIX (Tablets with names of battles also appear on each side) unsigned

An elaborate monument structure, 50 feet in height, topped with an 18 foot tall full-length female figure representing Liberty, or Peace. The female figure is made of individual sections of hammered copper soldered together. She is dressed in a Grecian style garment, and holds a flag in her proper left hand; a wreath in her proper right. She stands on a half sphere atop a square granite pedestal adorned with the initials U.S.A. Below this, each side of her pedestal is adorned with an eagle with its wings spread. Her pedestal is placed on a dome atop the monument structure. At the bottom of the monument are projecting ledges that feature life-sized bronze military figures representing the four branches of the U.S. military--the Artillery (holding a cannon plunger in proper left hand; pistol in proper right), Cavalry (with unsheathed saber), Infantry (with musket), and Navy (with oar held in raised proper right arm; coiled rope in proper left hand). The monument structure also includes two sets of bronze doors that lead to an interior museum room. The bronze doors are adorned with eagle and emblem reliefs. The interior museum room is adorned with marble display cases, bronze pilasters, and a brass chandelier.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure female -- Full length

Allegory -- Civic -- Liberty

Figure group -- Male

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Literature -- Dix

Outdoor Sculpture -- Kansas -- Wichita

Administered by Sedgwick County, Director of Central Services, 525 North Main Street, Wichita, Kansas 67203

Located Sedgwick County Historic Courthouse, 510 South Main, South lawn, Wichita, Kansas

The sculpture was authorized in 1911, with county tax appropriations amounting to $25,574.26. James N. Miller was secretary of the Sedgwick County Memorial Association, which was charged with erecting the memorial. A Wichita Eagle article dated Oct. 3, 1911, discusses commission of sculpture and contract award to Charles G. Blake and Company. The memorial was designed by E. M. Viquesney; the female figure atop the monument was furnished by W. H. Mullins; the military figures were created by Frederick C. Hibbard; and the granite and marble was supplied by Woodbury Granite Company. The foundation work was done by J. W. Burton. A balance of $3,013.37 was left from the original funding.

IAS files contain copies or transcriptions of related newspaper articles from Wichita Eagle, Oct. 3, 1911, Dec. 3, 1911, Feb. 21, 1913, March 9, 1913, July 14, 1948, June 8, 1958, Feb. 27, 1993; and the Wichita Beacon, June 6, 1958. IAS files also contain copy of dedication program and article from Greater Wichita Magazine, Aug. 1974.

When initially erected, it was discovered that the female figure atop the monument faced north instead of south. Union veterans complained that it was in poor taste for her to turn her back on the south, so the figure was repositioned at a cost of $100. The monument was unveiled in 1913.

Treated 2000 August-2001 November. Russell-Marti Conservation Services, Inc. (California, MO). Treatment report on file with owner and conservator.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Kansas, Wichita survey, 1993.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

Paulsen, Chris, ed., "Beautifying Wichita Through Sculpture," Wichita, KS: Project Beauty, Inc., c. 1989. (booklet)

SOS Conservation Treatment Award, 1999.

SOS Conservation Notification Report, 2004.

Polk, Chris Paulsen, "Beautifying Wichita Through Sculpture," Wichita, KS: Project Beauty, Inc., 2007, pg. 35.

Paulsen, Chris, ed., "Beautifying Wichita Through Sculpture," Wichita, KS: Project Beauty, Inc., c. 1989, pg. 8.

Polk, Chris Paulsen, "Beautifying Wichita Through Sculpture," Wichita, KS: Project Beauty, Inc., 2007, pg. 35-36.

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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