John C. Breckinridge Memorial facts for kids
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John C. Breckinridge Memorial
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| Location | Lexington, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Henry-Bonnard Broze Co., NY |
| MPS | Civil War Monuments of Kentucky MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000705 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1997 |
The John C. Breckinridge Memorial is a statue located in Lexington, Kentucky. It honors John C. Breckinridge, an important person from Lexington's history. He was born and died in this city. The memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 1997. This means it is recognized as a significant historical site.
Breckinridge was the Vice President for James Buchanan. He also ran for president against Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election. He won nine states in the Southern part of the country. Later, he served in the Confederate States Army. He was the last Confederate States Secretary of War. After the South lost the war, he left the country.
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About the Breckinridge Memorial
The memorial was created by the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company from New York. The bottom part, called the pedestal, is made of strong granite. The statue of Breckinridge himself is made from bronze. He is shown standing in a natural, relaxed pose. The government of Kentucky helped pay for the monument to be built.
Building the Monument
The Breckinridge memorial was finished in 1887. This was 24 years before another statue, the John Hunt Morgan Memorial, was built. Both statues were originally located on the courthouse lawn in Lexington. This area was once a place where slave auctions were held before the Civil War.
Moving the Statues
In 2010, the Breckinridge monument was moved about 50 feet. It was placed in a new spot facing Main Street. This move was part of a project to build the Cheapside pavilion. The old Fayette County Courthouse was also updated. It reopened in 2018 as a place for tourism, entertainment, and offices.
Relocating the Memorials
In November 2015, a group called the Urban County Arts Review Board suggested moving both the Breckinridge and Morgan statues. At first, in February 2016, Lexington mayor Jim Gray said the statues would stay. However, after many people in the community asked for them to be moved, he changed his mind.
Final Relocation
The monuments were officially removed on October 17, 2017. In November 2017, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council agreed to move them to the Lexington Cemetery. The statues were fully moved by July 2018. Money for the move came from private donations. These donations will also help pay for keeping the statues safe and maintained in the future. The Breckinridge statue was placed in his family's burial area. The Morgan statue was placed in the cemetery's Confederate section.
