New York State Monument facts for kids
The monument in 2018
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 39°49′15″N 77°13′50″W / 39.820789°N 77.230596°W |
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| Location | Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Designer | Caspar Buberl Maurice J. Power (Some bronze works) |
| Fabricator | Hallowell Granite Works Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company |
| Material | Bronze Granite |
| Length | 27.5 feet (8.4 m) (Base) |
| Width | 27.5 feet (8.4 m) (Base) |
| Height | 93 feet (28 m) |
| Dedicated to | New York soldiers who died at the Battle of Gettysburg |
The New York State Monument is a very tall and important monument. You can find it at the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania. This monument was built to honor soldiers from New York who died during the Battle of Gettysburg. This famous battle happened during the American Civil War. The monument was officially opened in 1893. It was designed by a sculptor named Caspar Buberl. Some of the bronze parts were designed by Maurice J. Power.
Contents
A Monument to Heroes: The Story of the New York State Monument
Why New York Built This Monument
During the American Civil War, many soldiers fought for the Union Army. More than 475,000 of these soldiers were from New York. This was more than from any other state. Many New York soldiers fought bravely at the Battle of Gettysburg. In fact, New York has the largest group of soldiers buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.
After the war, New York wanted to remember its brave soldiers. The state built many monuments to honor those who died. The government of New York decided to spend $50,000 to build a very large monument. This monument would be placed in the cemetery.
Designing and Building the Monument
The New York Monuments Commission was in charge of this project. A former Union General named Daniel Sickles led the commission. They asked several famous sculptors to create designs. The best design would win money.
Caspar Buberl was chosen to design the monument. He was well-known for creating military monuments. Construction began around 1891. The stone parts were made by Hallowell Granite Works. The Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company made the bronze pieces. Maurice J. Power, a sculptor from New York City, also designed some of the bronze parts. The monument was officially dedicated on July 2, 1893. The total cost was about $59,000.
Keeping the Monument Beautiful
Over the years, the monument has been cared for. In 1995, experts checked its condition. In 2011, the statue at the top was repaired and cleaned. The next year, in 2012, the monument was steam-cleaned. A special protective wax was added to the bronze parts. This helps keep the monument looking good for many years.
What the New York State Monument Looks Like
A Towering Design
The New York State Monument looks like a tall victory column. It is similar to an ancient Roman column called Trajan's Column. A bronze statue stands proudly at the very top. The monument is about 93 feet (28 meters) tall. This makes it one of the tallest monuments at Gettysburg. It is even taller than the Soldiers' National Monument.
The Statue at the Top
The statue at the top is a woman. She looks like one of the women from the Coat of arms of New York. She holds flowers in one hand, honoring the dead. In her other hand, she holds a staff. This statue is about 13 feet (4 meters) tall. She faces towards the section of the National Cemetery where New York soldiers are buried.
Details on the Base and Column
The word "NEW YORK" is carved into the front of the monument's base. A bronze plaque on the front has an important message. It says the monument honors "THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS / OF THE / STATE OF NEW YORK / WHO FELL IN THE / BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG". It also mentions that many of them are buried there. The plaque also lists the number of soldiers who were hurt or died.
On the back of the base, another plaque lists the names of officers from New York who died at Gettysburg. You can also see different Corps Badges on the base. These badges represent different army groups. The base is made of granite and is about 27 feet 8 inches (8.4 meters) tall. Each side of the base is about 27.5 feet (8.4 meters) wide.
Above the base, there is a ring of bronze tablets. These tablets show four important scenes from the battle. They include:
- The wounding of General Daniel Sickles
- The wounding of General Winfield Scott Hancock
- The death of General John F. Reynolds
- A war meeting led by General Henry Warner Slocum
This bronze section is about 9 feet 9 inches (3 meters) tall. It has a diameter of 5 feet 3 inches (1.6 meters). Above this, there is another bronze decoration. It shows the seal of New York, battle flags, and an eagle. The main column itself is made of granite. It is about 33 feet (10 meters) tall and is made from four large sections of stone.
Gallery
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Front of the base
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Bronze drum
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Statue
