McKinley Monument facts for kids
The McKinley Monument is a tall stone tower, about 96 feet (29 meters) high, located in Niagara Square in Buffalo, New York. It stands right in front of Buffalo City Hall, marking the very center of the city where many main roads meet.
This monument was built by the State of New York to remember William McKinley, who was the 25th President of the United States. He was shot and died in Buffalo on September 14, 1901, while visiting the Pan-American Exposition. The monument was officially opened on September 6, 1907. An important architect named Daniel H. Burnham suggested that a tall, pointed tower, called an obelisk, would be the best design to show how important the monument was. The monument was fully repaired in 2017 because weather had caused some damage over the years.
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About the McKinley Monument
The McKinley Monument is made from marble from Vermont and Italy. It has a tall, pointed tower (an obelisk) with marble lions sitting around its base. The monument was designed by architects Carrère and Hastings, who also helped design the Pan-American Exposition. The animal sculptures, including the lions and turtles, were created by Alexander Phimister Proctor. The sleeping lions represent strength, and the turtles are symbols of eternal life.
The city of Buffalo, New York, gave the land for the monument, which was a circular area 9 feet (2.7 meters) wide. About $100,000 was set aside for the project. When finished, the monument's base was 7 feet square, and the obelisk rose 69 feet above it.
The Lion Sculptures
In 1905, Alexander Phimister Proctor, a well-known American sculptor, finished a model for the four lions that would sit around the base of the McKinley Monument. Each of these lions was sculpted to be four times larger than a real lion. They were made entirely of white marble. These huge lions were modeled after Sultan, an old lion from the Bronx Zoological Park. Each marble lion weighs about 12 tons and is 12 feet (3.7 meters) long.
Combining traditional architecture, like the obelisk, with wild animal sculptures was a new idea in American art at the time.
Messages on the Monument
At the bottom of the monument, you can find several messages carved into the stone. These messages tell us important facts about William McKinley and the monument itself:
- It says the monument was built by New York State to honor President William McKinley.
- It mentions that William McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio, on January 29, 1843.
- It notes his military service, including becoming a Major for bravery in battle.
- It lists his political career, including serving in Congress and as Governor of Ohio.
- It states that he was elected President of the United States in 1896 and 1900.
- It sadly records that he died in Buffalo on September 14, 1901, after being shot by an attacker while shaking hands.
- It also names the people on the commission who oversaw the building of the monument.
Architect Daniel Burnham's Ideas
The famous architect Daniel H. Burnham had a big impact on the design of the McKinley Monument. Officials from Buffalo asked for his advice on what kind of monument to build. The monument's spot in Niagara Square, which was already a park, had some challenges. The tall buildings around the park meant that the monument needed to be very noticeable but still allow the park to be used. This led Burnham to suggest an obelisk (the tall, pointed tower) with a strong base.
Burnham also thought about adding a fountain to the monument. However, he realized it would be hard to keep a fountain working during New York's cold winters. He decided that the base of the monument should still look artistic and beautiful, even without water.
The Monument's Dedication Ceremony
The McKinley Monument was officially opened on September 6, 1907. This date was chosen to remember the day William McKinley was shot during the Pan-American Exposition in 1901. The dedication was part of Buffalo's "Old Home Week Celebration." Even though it rained heavily that day, about 100,000 people came to honor the former president.
The ceremony started at 3:00 PM with a parade. Troops from both the United States and Canada marched together, showing friendship between the two countries. Soldiers from the Twelfth United States Infantry, the Sixty Fifth Regiment, the National Guard of New York, and the Thirteenth Royal Canadian Regiment all took part.
Governor Charles Evans Hughes spoke at the dedication. He praised people who dedicate their lives to public service and encouraged everyone to uphold the important ideas that others had lived and died for. The poet Carl Sandburg even wrote a poem about the monument called Slants at Buffalo, New York.
Restoring the Monument
The McKinley Monument had been exposed to weather for over a century, so it needed a full repair. A complete restoration project took place from June to September 2017. The Flynn Battaglia Company was chosen to do the work. They carefully removed damaged marble blocks and replaced them with new ones from the same quarry in Vermont. The paving stones and stairs were also removed and put back correctly. Stone poles were cleaned, and two were replaced. The fountains were fixed to stop any leaks.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento a McKinley para niños
