The Figurehead of the Battleship Louisiana, (sculpture).

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The Figurehead of the Battleship Louisiana, (sculpture).

Jno. Williams, Inc., founder.

The Figurehead of the Battleship Louisiana, (sculpture).

Spanish-American War Veterans Memorial, (sculpture).

Dedicated 1913. Installed 1939.

Digital Reference:

Figurehead and relief plaques: bronze; Base: concrete and stucco.

Overall: approx. 11 ft. 8 in. x 10 ft. x 10 ft.

JNO Williams INC. New YoRk (On east side of base:) (Top plaque:) IN MEMORIAM/U.S.S.MAINE/DESTROYED IN HAVANA HARBOR/FEBRUARY 15TH 1898/THIS TABLET IS CAST FROM METAL RECOVERED FROM THE U.S.S.MAINE (Bottom plaque:) THIS/FIGUREHEAD/.FROM.THE./.BATTLESHIP."LOUISIANA".IS./.ERECTED.IN.MEMORY.OF. THE./.SOLDIERS.AND.SAILORS./.WHO.SERVED.THE.FLAG.IN.THE./.SPANISH-AMERICAN.WAR./1898 - 1902/ERECTED MDMXXXIX (On west side of base, raised lettering:) (Each tip of cross:) CUBA PORTO-RICO PHILIPPINE/ISLANDS USA (Around relief:) *SPANISH*WAR*VETERANS*1898-1902 unsigned

The figurehead of the Battleship Louisiana is mounted to the front of a triangular base in the shape of a ship's bow. The figurehead is composed of stylized waves surrounding a shield bearing an image. On the east side of the base is a rectangular relief plaque depicting a female figure from the waist up, in proper left profile, carrying a shield in her proper left hand and holding her proper right hand out in front of her. Mounted directly below her is a cross-shaped plaque. On the west side of the base is a cross-shaped plaque bearing a circular relief depicting a soldier and sailor standing on either side of a woman. The soldier holds a rifle with both hands and the sailor holds a sword with both hands. The woman is on her knees, her head upright, arms outstretched to each side. In the background is a battleship floating on water. Inscriptions encircle the relief and appear on each cross tip. Raised waves decorate the sides of the base where it meets the ground.

History -- United States -- Spanish American War

Figure female -- Waist length

Architecture -- Boat -- Maine

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Dress -- Accessory -- Shield

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Architecture -- Boat -- Detail

Outdoor Sculpture -- Louisiana -- Baton Rouge

Administered by Baton Rouge Parks and Recreation Commission, 3140 North Sherwood Forest Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70814

Located Dalrymple Drive at Magnolia Drive, west side, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The sculpture commemorates the soldiers and sailors who served in the Spanish-American War, 1898-1902, and remembers the U.S.S. Maine, which was destroyed in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The top relief plaque on the east side of the boat is cast from metal recovered from the U.S.S. Maine. The sculpture was copyrighted by Check Sculpture, Williams Inc., New York. For related reading see Tony Gibbons' "The Complete Encyclopedia of Battleships: A Technical Directory of Capital Ships From 1860 to the Present Day," New York: Crescent Books, 1983.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Louisiana survey, 1995.

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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