Groton Monument facts for kids
The Groton Monument is a tall stone monument in Groton, Connecticut. It's also known as the Fort Griswold Monument. This monument honors the brave soldiers who died during the Battle of Groton Heights on September 6, 1781.
It was first about 127 feet (39 meters) tall. In 1881, for the 100-year anniversary of the battle, its top was changed. A small dome (called a cupola) was removed and replaced with an iron-capped pyramid, similar to the Bunker Hill Monument. The Groton Monument has a special plaque that tells the story of the Battle of Groton Heights. Another plaque lists the names of the Americans who died in the battle.
In 1918, lightning struck the top of the monument. It also damaged the nearby Monument House Museum. This museum shows exhibits about the American Revolutionary War. You can climb the monument and visit the museum from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Groton Monument is located in Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, which includes Fort Griswold.
Building the Monument
The Groton Monument Association was formed in 1820. They hired architects Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson Davis to design the monument. The first stone was placed on September 6, 1825. The monument was finished in 1830.
It was originally 127 feet (39 meters) high. But in 1881, for the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Groton Heights, its top was changed. The small dome was removed and replaced with an iron-capped pyramid, like the Bunker Hill Monument. After these changes, the monument became 135 feet (41 meters) tall.
A special plaque is placed above the entrance of the monument. It says: "THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, A.D. 1830, AND IN THE 55TH YEAR OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE U.S.A. IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE PATRIOTS, WHO FELL IN THE MASSACRE AT FORT GRISWOLD, NEAR THIS SPOT, ON THE 6TH OF SEPT. A.D. 1781, WHEN THE BRITISH, UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE TRAITOR, BENEDICT ARNOLD, BURNT THE TOWNS OF NEW LONDON AND GROTON, AND SPREAD DESOLATION AND WOE THROUGHOUT THIS REGION."
Another plaque lists the 88 American soldiers who were killed during the battle. It has a few small spelling mistakes in some of the names.
Monument Repairs and Upkeep
The monument was repaired in 1893 and 1894. The State of Connecticut provided $5,000 for this work. In 1918, lightning hit the monument. It broke the capstone (the top stone) and sent pieces falling to the ground. The lightning also damaged the nearby monument house museum.
In 1985, Hurricane Gloria blew out a window of the monument. The State of Connecticut spent $6,250 to fix the mortar (the material between the stones) in 1986. The monument was closed for repairs until 1989.
In 2007, a local newspaper mentioned that the State of Connecticut was not funding enough repairs for the historic site. It was pointed out that money approved for its preservation had not yet been released. More repairs were needed, including for the sidewalks and the memorial gate.
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