Dewey Monument facts for kids
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The Goddess of Victory statue by Robert Ingersoll Aitken atop the Dewey Monument (2010)
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| Coordinates | 37°47′17″N 122°24′27″W / 37.78795°N 122.40755°W |
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| Location | Union Square San Francisco, U.S. |
| Designer | Robert Ingersoll Aitken, sculptor Newton Tharp, architect |
| Width | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Height | 85 ft (25.9 m) |
| Beginning date | 1901 |
| Completion date | 1903 |
| Dedicated to | Admiral George Dewey |
The Dewey Monument is a tall statue in San Francisco, California. You can find it right in the middle of Union Square. This monument was built to honor Admiral George Dewey. It celebrates his big win in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War. Work on the monument started in 1901 and it was officially opened in 1903.
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What is the Dewey Monument?
The Dewey Monument was built to remember Admiral George Dewey. He was a hero from the Spanish–American War. His most famous victory was at the Battle of Manila Bay.
On May 23, 1901, President William McKinley visited San Francisco. He helped start the building of the monument. Later that year, President McKinley was succeeded by his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt. On May 14, 1903, President Roosevelt officially opened the monument. It celebrates Admiral Dewey's victory over the Spanish fleet in the Philippines. It also honors all the brave sailors of the United States Navy.
The Goddess of Victory Statue
Robert Ingersoll Aitken was the sculptor who created the statue on top of the monument. It's a 9-foot (2.7-meter) tall statue of Nike. Nike is the ancient Greek Goddess of Victory.
The statue holds a trident, which is a three-pronged spear. This trident represents Admiral Dewey. She also holds a wreath, which represents President McKinley. There are a couple of stories about who posed for Aitken's statue. One story says it was Alma de Bretteville, who later became Alma de Bretteville Spreckels. Another story from 1902 says it was Clara Petzold, a popular model for artists in San Francisco at that time.
How the Monument Was Built
Newton Tharp was the architect who designed the base and the tall column. The whole project cost about $45,000. The column is over 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide and more than 85 feet (26 meters) tall. It was put together using huge blocks, each weighing about 40,000 pounds (18,144 kilograms)! To lift these heavy blocks, long timbers, over 100 feet (30 meters) long, were brought all the way from Oregon.
The column stands on a square base. Each side of the base has important words carved into it. These words tell the story of Admiral Dewey's victory.
Inscriptions on the Base
The base of the monument shares details about the historic battle.
- The base of the Dewey Monument
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The American squadron at Manila Bay included ships like the Olympia and Baltimore. President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated this monument on May 14, 1903.
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On April 24, 1898, Secretary of the Navy John D. Long sent a message to Commodore George Dewey. It said: 'War has commenced between the United States and Spain. Proceed at once to the Philippine Islands and capture or destroy the Spanish fleet'.
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On the night of April 30, 1898, Commodore Dewey's ships entered Manila Bay. They bravely faced hidden explosives and reached Manila by dawn on May 1, 1898. They attacked and destroyed the Spanish fleet of ten warships. They also took control of the forts and held the city until American troops arrived.
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The people of San Francisco built this monument to remember the American Navy's victory. This happened under Commodore George Dewey at Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. President William McKinley broke ground for this monument on May 23, 1901.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento a Dewey para niños
