Soldiers' Monument (Santa Fe, New Mexico) facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 35°41′14.7474″N 105°56′18.6714″W / 35.687429833°N 105.938519833°W |
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| Location | Santa Fe Plaza, New Mexico |
| Type | obelisk and plinth with engraved text |
| Material | stone |
| Height | 33 feet (10 m) |
| Dedicated to | U.S. Soldiers who battled with Native Americans |
| Dismantled date | October 12, 2020 |
The Soldiers' Monument is a well-known stone memorial located in the center of the Santa Fe Plaza in New Mexico. It was built between 1867 and 1868. This monument is a tall stone pillar, called an obelisk, standing on a square base, known as a plinth. It is about 33 feet (10 meters) tall.
The monument has four sides with words carved into them. Three sides honor Union soldiers who fought and died in battles in New Mexico during the American Civil War. The fourth side honored U.S. soldiers who died "in the various battles with savage Indians." The word "savage" was removed by someone in 1974. In 2020, this part of the monument was damaged even more. On October 12, 2020, which is Indigenous People's Day, the tall obelisk part of the monument was pulled down by protestors.
Contents
Exploring the Monument's Location
The monument stands where several paths meet in the Santa Fe Plaza. It is surrounded by a metal fence and stone benches. A sign nearby helps explain the monument's history. It says that the words on monuments show what people thought when they were built. This monument was put up in 1868, after a time when many groups were fighting. This is why words like "savage" and "rebel" were used. The sign reminds us that ideas change over time.
Understanding the Monument's Design
The monument is a 33-foot (10-meter) tall stone obelisk. It has four carved marble plaques on its stone base. These plaques remember U.S. soldiers who died in battles in New Mexico. The monument is in the middle of the Santa Fe Plaza in downtown Santa Fe.
The Monument's Base (Plinth)
What the Inscriptions Say
The words carved on the four sides of the monument's base are:
- TO THE HEROES OF THE FEDERAL ARMY WHO FELL AT THE BATTLE OF VALVERDE, FOUGHT WITH THE REBELS FEBUARY 21, 1862.
- TO THE HEROES WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE VARIOUS BATTLES WITH [ (missing word) ] INDIANS IN THE TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.
- TO THE HEROES OF THE FEDERAL ARMY WHO FELL AT THE BATTLES OF CANON DEL APACHE AND PIGEON'S RANCH (LA GLORIETA) FOUGHT WITH THE REBELS MARCH 28, 1863 AND TO THOSE WHO FELL AT THE BATTLE FOUGHT WITH THE REBELS AT PERALTA APRIL 15, 1862.
- ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO THROUGH THEIR LEGISLATURES OF 1866 - 7 - 8. MAY THE UNION BE PERPETUAL.
The missing word on the second side was "SAVAGE." It was removed in 1974. The Battle of Cañon del Apache is part of the Battle of Glorieta Pass, which happened from March 26–28, 1862. Also, the word "February" is spelled "FEBUARY" on the monument.
The Tall Pillar (Obelisk)
The obelisk part of the monument was made of four stone pieces. It also had a pyramid-shaped top. This was its original design from the 1860s until it was taken down in 2020.
How the Monument Was Built
This monument, like others with similar names, was put up after the American Civil War. The words on the monument mention the New Mexico Territorial Legislature. This group, which came before the modern New Mexico Legislature, helped plan the monument.
The Word That Was Removed
In August 1974, a young man chipped out the word "savage" from the monument. No one has ever officially confirmed who he was, but one woman says it was her father.
Over the years, other changes have been made to the monument without permission. In 2014, someone wrote "courageous" over the spot where "savage" had been removed. In 2020, the side of the obelisk that had been chipped was damaged more, and other parts were spray-painted.
The Monument Is Toppled
On October 12, 2020, which is Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day, protestors pulled down the obelisk part of the monument using ropes. They had been at the Plaza since the day before. Some people were arrested right before the monument was pulled down. Some injuries were also reported.
Images for kids
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The South-facing panel of the Soldiers' Monument, showing "February" misspelled as "Febuary"
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A frameless image related to the monument
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A temporary plaque at the Santa Fe Soldier's Monument in 2022 (the old plaque was removed)
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A close-up of the plaque engraving where the word 'savage' was chipped off
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