California Volunteers (sculpture) facts for kids
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The monument in 2013
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| Coordinates | 37°46′08″N 122°25′37″W / 37.76887°N 122.42682°W |
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| Location | Market and Dolores in San Francisco, California, United States |
| Designer | Douglas Tilden |
| Type | sculpture |
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| Height | 26 feet (7.9 m) from ground level |
| Completion date | August 12, 1906 |
| Dedicated to | Spanish–American War veterans from California |
The California Volunteers monument is a large outdoor sculpture. It is also known as the California Volunteers' Memorial or the Spanish–American War Memorial. This important artwork was created by Douglas Tilden and put in place in 1906. It honors the soldiers from California who served in the Spanish–American War.
History of the Monument
The California Volunteers monument was first set up in 1906. Its original spot was at the crossing of Market and Van Ness streets in San Francisco. This location was chosen by the people who helped pay for it and the sculptor, Douglas Tilden.
The monument cost $25,000 to build. This money came from extra donations. These donations were originally collected to welcome California soldiers home. The soldiers were returning from the Philippines after the Spanish-American War.
The monument was officially dedicated on Sunday, August 12, 1906. Many important people spoke at the ceremony. This included the former mayor of San Francisco, James D. Phelan. The current mayor, Eugene Schmitz, and California's governor, George Pardee, also gave speeches. General James Francis Smith, who was the Governor-General of the Philippines, also spoke.
In 1925, the monument was moved to its current location. You can find it now at the corner of Market and Dolores Street.
What the Monument Looks Like
The main part of the sculpture shows Bellona, the goddess of war. She is riding on the back of Pegasus, a famous winged horse from Greek myths. Some reports from 1906 described the riding figure as "Victory."
There are also two soldiers on the monument. One soldier is shown fallen, while another stands nearby. This standing soldier is holding a pistol.
The base of the monument has words carved into it. It says: "Erected by the Citizens of San Francisco in Honor of the California Volunteers, Spanish–American War, 1898. First to the Front."
The bronze figures of the sculpture are very large. They are about 16 feet (4.9 meters) tall and 10 feet (3 meters) long. They sit on a granite base that is another 10 feet (3 meters) tall. This makes the entire monument quite impressive.
