Peace Monument (Decatur, Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peace Monument |
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| Artist | Charles Mulligan |
| Year | 1912–1913 |
| Type | Indiana limestone |
| Dimensions | 490 cm × 880 cm × 262 cm (192 in × 348 in × 103.2 in) |
| Location | Adams County Courthouse, Decatur, Indiana, United States |
| 40°49′46.32″N 84°55′29.81″W / 40.8295333°N 84.9249472°W | |
| Owner | Adams County Commissioners |
The Peace Monument is a special kind of memorial called a cenotaph. A cenotaph is a monument built to honor people whose remains are buried somewhere else. This monument was designed by Charles Mulligan. You can find it at the Adams County Courthouse in Decatur, Indiana, in the United States.
This monument is dedicated to peace. It also honors the brave women who helped during the American Civil War. It's a general war memorial too, celebrating the sacrifices of soldiers in all wars. The Peace Monument is very important because it was the first monument in the United States made specifically to celebrate peace.
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What the Peace Monument Looks Like
The Peace Monument is made from Indiana limestone and metal. It's a large, empty tomb-like structure.
On the front, there's a statue of a woman. She represents "Peace." She stands on the left side of the monument. She wears armor and has her hair in a bun. In her left hand, she holds a shield that looks like the United States shield. It rests on the ground in front of her. Her right arm is stretched out. It rests on a laurel twig, which is a symbol of victory and peace. The twig lies across four rolled-up flags in the center of the monument. A sword in its scabbard hangs by her left side, behind the shield.
On both sides of the "Peace" statue, there are bronze panels. These panels list the names of 1,276 veterans from Adams County.
The back of the monument has these words carved into it:
- TO THE GLORY OF OUR COUNTRY
- AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
- OUR SOLDIER HEROS
- TO THE WOMEN OF OUR NATION
- AS A TRIBUTE TO THEIR
- COURAGE DEVOTION AND SACRIFICE
There's also a relief (a sculpture that sticks out from a flat surface) on the back. It shows a nurse helping a wounded soldier. The monument used to have a fountain that poured water into a trough below this relief.
Near the relief, there's a metal plaque attached to the monument. This metal came from the USS Maine, a famous ship. The plaque says: IN MEMORIAM/U.S.S. MAINE. This plaque was found again in 2008 when the county was fixing up the monument. At the bottom of the monument, there's a bench where the cenotaph sits. Two urns for plants are placed in front of the "Peace" statue.
How the Monument Was Built
The idea for this sculpture started with a historian named French Quinn. He used to organize placing flowers on veterans' graves on Decoration Day.
Quinn wrote an article in the Decatur Daily Democrat newspaper. It was titled "Let's Build a Soldiers Monument." He asked people to raise money for a war memorial. Because of his efforts, a property tax program was started. The Grand Army of the Republic (a group of Civil War veterans) supported this tax. It was 7 cents for every $100 of property value. This helped raise the money needed.
The monument was created between 1912 and 1913. Installation began in July 1913. Sam Henry Post from the Grand Army of the Republic and John H. Heller led the project. The county gave $10,000 for the monument. The dedication ceremony was delayed by two weeks. It finally took place on October 30, 1913. The Governor of Indiana at the time, Samuel M. Ralston, attended the event.
More About the Monument
The idea for the monument was first taken to the Art Institute of Chicago. They suggested that Quinn and the city talk to Charles Mulligan. Mulligan became the sculptor for the piece. Charles Dodd carved the monument. George Wemhoff and his company, Wemhoff Monument Works, designed, built, and installed it.
The cenotaph is a general war memorial. It especially focuses on the importance of peace and the role of women in the American Civil War. The monument also remembers soldiers from the Mexican–American War, the Spanish–American War, and the American Revolution. The stone for the monument came from the same quarry that supplied the stone for the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In 2013, the county celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Peace Monument. A special re-dedication ceremony was held at the site.
The Model for Peace
The woman who posed for the "Peace" statue was Margaret McMasters Van Slyke. She was from Chicago, Illinois. Around 1904, a famous physical culture expert named Bernarr Macfadden called Van Slyke the "best and most perfectly formed woman." People said she had a "fascinating type of beauty" that was often called Grecian, meaning it looked like ancient Greek art.
Taking Care of the Monument
The sculpture was cleaned and covered with a protective sealant in 1991 by JRS Builders. In 1993, the Save Outdoor Sculpture! program checked the monument. They said it needed more care. In the late 1990s, some parts of the monument were repaired. In 2008, the bronze plaques were sealed again.
During the 2013 centennial (100-year) celebration, the county wanted to raise $40,000. This money would help restore the monument even more. It would also help add the names of veterans from Adams County who served after 1913.
