Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

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Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Carabelli, Joseph, 1850-1911, sculptor.

Hamilton, James G. C., sculptor.

Ames Manufacturing Company, founder.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Dec. 1889. Dedicated May 1892.

Digital Reference:

Freedom: bronze; Soldiers: bronze; Base: granite; Foundation: cement.

Overall: approx. H. 76 ft.; Freedom: approx. H. 14 ft.; Soldiers: each approx. H. 7 ft.; Base: approx. W. 31 ft. x D. 31 ft.; Foundation: approx. W. 41 ft. x D. 41 ft.

(On pedestal of base, facing Webster Avenue, raised lettering:) NOT CONQUEST, BUT PEACE/TO THE/SOLDIERS AND SAILORS/WHO FOUGHT, AND TO ALL/PATRIOTIC MEN AND WOMEN/WHO HELPED TO PRESERVE/OUR NATION IN THE WAR/OF THE REBELLION (On pedestal of base, facing Clay Street, raised lettering:) AND A UNITED PEOPLE/A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE/FROM CHARLES H. HACKLEY/DEC. 25, 1889

A bronze figure of Freedom or Victory is mounted upon a tall, decorated, granite Corinthian column. Four bronze soldiers, representing the Infantry, Artillery, Cavalry, and Navy, stand on corners of the lower section of the base. Freedom holds a flagpole and laurel in her upraised proper right arm, with an eagle sitting on top. A star decorates her hair in front; and she holds a staff with ribbon and laurel, in her proper left hand. Her proper right foot extends off the base.

Near the bottom of the base, uniformed soldiers are placed on separate pedestals facing outward. On one corner, a mustached soldier stands holding a cannon swab in his proper right hand; his proper right foot resting atop a cannon ball. He is dressed in uniform, with billed cap and waist-length jacket. On another corner, a uniformed soldier stands at parade rest, holding the barrel of his rifle with his proper right hand, the butt resting behind his foot. He holds an open binocular case at waist height in his proper right hand. On the third corner, a Cavalryman with a moustache stands at ease with his proper left foot forward, wearing a waist-length jacket, wide-brimmed hat, and cavalry gloves. Both hands grasps the top handle of his sword, the tip resting by his feet. On the fourth corner, a Sailor stands at ease, his proper left hand on his hip and his proper right hand extending outward, missing an object it once held. He wears a sailor's cap, and a long-sleeved blouse with tied kerchief, tucked into flyless pants.

On each corner behind the soldiers are upturned cannons, with a relief border of stars above them. The pedestal beneath each soldier is decorated with a laurel wreath. The monument also decorated with reliefs of a drum draped by a banner; cannon balls; two rifles crossed with a saddle bag on top; an eagle on a shield with flag; and saddle with crossed swords. The base of the monument is stepped and surrounded by a short, wrought-iron fence.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Allegory -- Civic -- Liberty

Figure female -- Full length

Figure group -- Male

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Object -- Other -- Flag

Object -- Weapon -- Cannon

Outdoor Sculpture -- Michigan -- Muskegon

Administered by City of Muskegon, Parks Maintenance, 1350 East Keating Avenue, Muskegon, Michigan 49444

Located Hackley Park, Webster Avenue between 3rd & 4th Streets, Muskegon, Michigan

The monument commemorates soldiers and sailors of the Civil War. It cost $73,000 and was donated by Charles H. Hackley on Christmas Day, 1889, along with four other sculptures of Lincoln, Grant, Sherman and Farragut, also sited in the park. The monument was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1892. For additional information see: Alice Prescott Kyes' "Romance of Muskegon," Muskegon Heritage Society, 1974. IAS files contain excerpt from Lawrence Nelson's "Muskegon: 100 Years of Memories," Muskegon County Museum, 1982, pg. 10. IAS image files do not contain an image of the Freedom figure.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Michigan survey, 1993.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, MI5019, 1989.

Monumental News, June 1891.

Monumental News, Dec. 1891, pg. 463.

Monumental News, March 1905, pg. 208.

Nelson, Lawrence, "Muskegon: 100 Years of Memories," Muskegon County Museum, 1982, pg. 10.

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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