Latham Confederate Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Latham Confederate Monument
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| Location | Hopkinsville, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Hollowell Granite Company, Bangor, ME |
| MPS | Civil War Monuments of Kentucky MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000709 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1997 |
The Latham Confederate Monument is a special statue in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. You can find it in Riverside Cemetery. This monument is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
The Story Behind the Monument
John C. Latham's Big Idea
John C. Latham was a very rich man from Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He made his money in the cotton business. During the American Civil War, he fought for the Confederate States of America. After the war, Mr. Latham had a big wish. He wanted soldiers who died from both sides of the war to be buried together in Hopkinsville.
However, most of the Union soldiers were already buried at the Fort Donelson National Cemetery. So, instead, Mr. Latham arranged for 101 Confederate soldiers to be buried together. These soldiers had been buried in many different places.
A Generous Gift
John C. Latham gave $14,000 to the city of Hopkinsville for this important project. The monument and the graves were officially dedicated on May 19, 1887. A book called The Story of a Monument was even published in 1888. It shared notes about the monument and its dedication day. Mr. Latham also gave another $50,000 to help build new roads in the area.
What the Monument Looks Like
John C. Latham hired a company called Hallowell Granite Works to build the monument. This company was based far away in Bangor, Maine. The monument is made of strong granite stone. It stands very tall, reaching 37 feet high!
The monument has several cool decorations. You can see large cannonballs that are 18 inches wide. There are also Laurel wreaths, which are symbols of victory. You'll also spot bronze cannons and two swords carved into the stone.
A National Treasure
On July 17, 1997, the Latham Confederate Monument became even more special. It was one of sixty different monuments from the Civil War in Kentucky that were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical sites across the country. The monument is part of a larger group of monuments called the Civil War Monuments of Kentucky.
Hopkinsville has another Civil War monument too. It's called the Confederate Memorial Fountain in Hopkinsville. You can find it near the Christian County Courthouse in downtown Hopkinsville.
