Confederate Memorial Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Confederate Memorial Monument |
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| United States | |
The Confederate Memorial Monument in 2009. The four Confederate flags were removed in the wake of the Charleston shooting in 2015.
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| For Alabama's more than 122,000 Confederate veterans of the Civil War | |
| Established | December 7, 1898 |
| Location | 32°22′42″N 86°18′02″W / 32.3784°N 86.3006°W |
| Designed by | Gorda C. Doud |
The Confederate Memorial Monument is a large monument located outside the Alabama State Capitol building. It was built to honor the more than 122,000 soldiers from Alabama who fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. The monument stands tall on Capitol Hill in Alabama.
Building the Monument
This monument is dedicated to Alabama's soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. It stands about 88 feet (27 meters) tall. The idea for the monument started as early as 1865. It was officially dedicated on December 7, 1898.
Money for the monument came from several places. The state government gave $20,000. Groups like the Ladies Memorial Association of Alabama also helped. They raised $10,000 for the project. Another group, the Historical and Monumental Association of Alabama, added $6,755. Some politicians also contributed $5,000.
Design and Sculptors
The monument was designed by Gorda C. Doud. A sculptor named Alexander Doyle from New York City helped create parts of it. The design includes a base with statues representing different parts of the military.
On top of the base is a large column made of bronze and limestone. At the very top of the column is a bronze figure. This figure was sculpted by Doyle and represents "Patriotism." The first stone for the monument was placed by Jefferson Davis on April 29, 1886.
The base of the monument was built using limestone from Russellville, Alabama. However, there were problems with the stone meant for the main column. Later, stone from Bedford, Indiana was used for the column. The remaining statues for the base were made by Barnicoat Monuments in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Calls for Removal
Over the years, some people have asked for the monument to be removed. They believe it represents ideas that are not fair or inclusive today. However, others who want to preserve history have strongly disagreed with these requests.
In 2007, the monument was damaged when black paint was sprayed on its stone.
Flags Removed in 2015
On June 24, 2015, state workers removed the four flagpoles that displayed Confederate flags. This action was ordered by Governor Robert J. Bentley. It happened after a tragic event in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015.
After this event, many states and companies decided to stop displaying or selling the Confederate Battle Flag in public. Governor Bentley stated that he did not find any laws requiring the flags to stay up. He wanted to avoid any distractions from the state's legislative work.
