Doughboy (Pittsburgh) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Doughboy
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
The memorial in 2019
|
|
 Location in Pittsburgh
|
|
| Location | Butler St. and Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Built | 1921 |
| Architect | Allen George Newman |
| Part of | Lawrenceville Historic District (ID100004020) |
| Designated CP | July 8, 2019 |
The Doughboy is a special monument in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It honors soldiers who fought in wars. This landmark stands where two busy streets, Butler Street and Penn Avenue, meet.
Many people see the Doughboy as a symbol of the neighborhood. It is also known as one of Pittsburgh's most famous monuments for veterans. In 2019, it became part of the Lawrenceville Historic District. This means it is an important historical building or place.
The Doughboy statue was created by Allen George Newman. It was officially revealed on Memorial Day in 1921. You can find it in a small public area called Doughboy Square. This square is in front of the Pennsylvania National Bank Building.
History of the Doughboy Memorial
In 1918, a group called the Lawrenceville Board of Trade held a fun event. It was a carnival in Arsenal Park. They wanted to raise money for soldiers fighting in World War I. This was a very big war that involved many countries.
The war ended before all the money could be used. So, neighborhood leaders decided to build a memorial instead. They chose Allen George Newman to sculpt the statue. Newman was famous for making art about military themes. One of his well-known works is The Hiker. This statue shows a tired soldier from the Spanish–American War.
The bronze Doughboy statue was shown to the public on Memorial Day in 1921. Over 20,000 people came to see it! The Pittsburgh Gazette Times newspaper said it was the "largest ceremonial event ever witnessed in Lawrenceville."
Honoring Veterans Through the Years
The memorial first honored people from Pittsburgh's Sixth Ward. This area included Lower Lawrenceville, Polish Hill, and the upper Strip District. These were the people who served in World War I.
Later, in 1947, the statue got a new base. This base was made of marble and limestone. It had bronze plaques with names on them. These plaques listed the names of 3,100 people from the Sixth Ward. They had served in World War II. This was another huge global war. The plaques also listed the 53 people who died during that war.
In 1984, another plaque was added. This one was placed on the railing around the memorial. It honored veterans from the Korean War and the Vietnam War. This shows how the Doughboy memorial continues to remember soldiers from different conflicts.
