El Dorado Confederate Monument facts for kids
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El Dorado Confederate Monument
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | Courthouse Lawn, near jct. of N. Main St. and S. Washington, El Dorado, Arkansas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Part of | El Dorado Commercial Historic District (ID03000773) |
| MPS | Civil War Commemorative Sculpture MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000463 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1996 |
| Designated CP | August 21, 2003 |
The El Dorado Confederate Monument is a historic statue located in El Dorado, Arkansas. You can find it on the lawn of the Union County Courthouse. It stands near the corner of North Main and South Washington Streets. This monument honors soldiers who fought for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
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Discover the El Dorado Confederate Monument
This monument was built to remember the soldiers from Union County who served in the Confederate Army. It was created in 1910 and has been an important part of El Dorado's history ever since.
What Does the Monument Look Like?
The monument features a statue of a Confederate Army soldier. The soldier is shown in mid-stride, as if walking forward. This statue stands on top of a special base that looks like a small temple.
The temple-like base is supported by four columns. These columns are shaped like cannons. They hold up a flat top part called a lintel. This lintel has words written on three of its sides. Above the lintel, there is a roof with steps, and cannonballs are placed at each corner.
The entire structure, both the soldier statue and the temple base, is made from gray and blue marble that has stripes. The temple base is about 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall and 10 feet (3 meters) wide. The soldier statue is about 76 inches (1.9 meters) tall. Inside the temple base, there used to be a water fountain, but it no longer works today.
Who Built This Monument?
The El Dorado Confederate Monument was built in 1910. It cost more than $2,800 to create. A local group called the United Daughters of the Confederacy paid for it. This group worked to honor the memory of Confederate soldiers.
It is thought that this monument was one of the first in the Southern United States to include a fountain.
What Do the Inscriptions Say?
The monument has several important messages carved into its stone. On the front side, facing south, it says:
- "CSA 1861 - 1865" (CSA stands for Confederate States of America, and these are the years of the Civil War)
- "ERECTED BY THE HENRY G. BUNN CHAPTER"
- "UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY"
- "1909" (This is the year the group was formed, not when the monument was finished)
On the north side, there are two quotes:
- "'TRUTH CRUSHED TO EARTH SHALL RISE AGAIN.'"
- "'EVEN DEATH CANNOT SEVER THE CORDS OF MEMORY.'"
These quotes talk about how truth will always reappear and how memories last forever.
The western side of the lintel reads:
- "'IN HONOR OF THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS / OF UNION COUNTY, ARK.'"
This clearly states the monument's purpose: to honor soldiers from Union County, Arkansas.
The eastern side of the lintel has a design of two crossed swords.
A Recognized Historic Place
The El Dorado Confederate Monument is considered an important historical site. In 1996, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places in the United States that are important to history. Later, in 2003, it also became part of the El Dorado Commercial Historic District. This means it is part of a larger historic area in El Dorado.
