Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch |
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| Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument | |
The triumphal arch at the south end of the traffic oval (foreground). To the left and right of the memorial are additional streets (not shown).
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| Type | American Civil War memorial |
| Location | Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Elevation | 135 feet (41 m) |
| Height | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Dedicated | October 21, 1892 |
| Built | 1889–1892 |
| Built for | "To the Defenders of the Union, 1861–1865" |
| Rebuilt | 1898 (statues added) |
| Restored | 1976 |
| Architect | John H. Duncan |
| Sculptor | Frederick MacMonnies and Philip Martiny |
| Owner | City of New York |
| Designated | October 16, 1973 |
| Reference no. | LP-0821 |
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The Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch is a large, special arch in Brooklyn, New York City. It stands in Grand Army Plaza, right next to Prospect Park. This arch was built between 1889 and 1892. It honors the "Defenders of the Union" from the American Civil War, which happened from 1861 to 1865. The Union Army was the army of the northern states.
For a while, you could go inside the arch and climb stairs to an observation deck at the very top. This deck offered great views. However, it closed in the early 2000s because parts of the inside became unsafe.
History of the Arch
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In 1889, a special group called the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Commission chose a design for the arch. The winning design came from an architect named John H. Duncan.
Other famous people helped with the project. Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who designed many parks, worked with architect Stanford White. They prepared the site for the arch.
The cornerstone, which is the first stone laid, was put in place in 1889. William Tecumseh Sherman, a famous general from the Civil War, spoke at this event. In 1892, President Grover Cleveland was there for the official unveiling of the arch.
Adding the Sculptures
The arch was first built without its famous bronze statues. These statues were added a few years later. In 1894, Frederick MacMonnies was hired to design three groups of bronze sculptures.
In 1895, more sculptures were added. On the inside of the arch, you can see sculptures of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. Lincoln and Grant were important leaders during the Civil War. These sculptures are called bas-reliefs, which means they stick out slightly from the flat wall. William Rudolf O'Donovan sculpted the men, and Thomas Eakins sculpted the horses.
Also in 1895, Frederick MacMonnies added the "Army" and "Navy" sculptures. He also created the large sculpture on top of the arch. This crowning sculpture shows a winged goddess of victory. She is celebrating the Union Army's victory in the Civil War. She is shown with war items like a sword and flags. There is also a quadriga, which is a chariot pulled by four horses. The sculpture shows two of the horses being removed for peacetime use. This represents the country's recovery after the war. The goddess and her helpers are also trumpeting victory and freedom, which includes the end of slavery.
Recent History
The arch became a special landmark in New York City in 1973. In 1976, the crowning sculpture was repaired after a part of it fell off.
As mentioned, the observation deck at the top of the arch was closed in the 2000s because it was not safe. But good news! In 2018, plans were announced to fix up the arch. This means the observation deck will be restored and reopened for people to visit again in the future.
See also
In Spanish: Arco de los Soldados y Marineros para niños
