Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (Manhattan) facts for kids
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Monument is a special building in Riverside Park in New York City. It's located at 89th Street and Riverside Drive in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. This monument honors the brave soldiers and sailors who fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. It looks like a much bigger version of an ancient Greek building called the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates from Athens. The monument was finished in 1902. It was designed by the company Stoughton & Stoughton with Paul E. M. DuBoy.
Contents
History of the Monument
Building the Monument
People first thought about building this monument way back in 1869. But not much happened until 1893. By then, memories of the Civil War were starting to fade. Many people felt a sense of longing for that time. So, the New York State government created a group to build a monument. It would honor the soldiers and sailors who served in the Union Army.
At first, they planned to build it in different spots. There was a lot of disagreement about where it should go. This caused many delays. Once the final spot was chosen, the winning design had to be changed. It needed to fit the new location.
Work on the monument began on September 21, 1900. About 200 people came to the groundbreaking ceremony. The first stone was put in place in January 1901. A simple message on the stone said New York citizens built it.
The monument was officially opened on Memorial Day in 1902. President Theodore Roosevelt led the ceremony. After a parade of Civil War veterans, the monument was revealed. It has a simple message: "To the memory of the brave soldiers and sailors who saved the Union." The monument cost $300,000 to build. It was made from granite from Vermont.
Designing the Monument
The white marble monument was designed by Charles and Arthur Stoughton. They won a public contest with their design. It was called the "Temple of Fame." Paul E. M. Duboy carved the fancy decorations. He also designed The Ansonia, a famous building nearby.
The monument looks like an ancient Greek temple. It's based on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens. It has a tall, round center part. This part is surrounded by twelve Corinthian columns. These columns are on a high base. At the entrance to the raised area, there are stone blocks. These blocks have the names of New York volunteer regiments carved into them. They also list the battles they fought in.
Keeping the Monument Strong
Early Repairs and Upkeep
By 1907, the monument already needed fixing. The mayor, George B. McClellan Jr., reported problems. Some marble slabs were loose and in danger of falling. Three had already fallen off. The building also leaked badly. Cement was falling from the walls and ceiling. Some stones were chipped. The mayor asked for $20,000 to fix it.
A big change happened in the 1930s. The yellow brick around the monument was replaced. It was changed to an orange-colored stone. This stone is common in park projects from that time. However, these new stones have also chipped and split. The monument was also covered with a special wax. This wax was used to protect it back then. In 1962, the city spent over $1 million on major repairs. They put on a new roof, which had worn out. Parts of the monument were replaced with stronger granite.
Recent Efforts to Restore It
In 2002, the Parks Department suggested a $1.2 million plan. This plan was to fix the monument's steps and sidewalks. But it seems this work was never finished. A private donor who was going to help pulled out. In 2005, a newspaper reported that the monument looked worn out. The paving stones were damaged from skateboarding and soccer. Graffiti was painted over, but it looked messy. The inside of the monument was leaking and closed to visitors.
In 2007, a city council member, Gale Brewer, set aside $650,000. This money was for redesigning the paved area south of the monument. This area has three Civil War cannons. But this plan also got stuck because people couldn't agree on the designs. It was never finished. In 2008, a fence was put up. It kept people off the entry stairs because they were in very bad shape.
In 2014, the Riverside Park Conservancy tried to raise $5.5 million. This was after a $1.5 million study of the park system. The monument now has many layers of anti-graffiti paint. The fancy bronze doorway has been damaged by vandals. At some point, a beautifully carved bronze flagpole base was removed. The park system says the monument still needs money. It needs funding to fix loose parts, chipped stone, and general damage from time and vandalism.
Important Landmark Status
The monument was named a New York City landmark in 1976. This means it's a special historical place. The New York Landmark Commission also made it a state landmark in 2001.
Monument Design Details
The monument was meant to be the center of a big area. This area would have had paved terraces and stairs. These would have helped with the steep slopes around it. But these extra parts were never built. The monument is placed on a curve in Riverside Drive. This makes it easy to see from far away. This was a popular idea in the "City Beautiful" movement. This monument is a great example of Beaux-Arts architecture.
Originally, there were plans for stairs leading to the river. There was also a wall to the south. But these were never built either. On the south side of the monument, there are two cannons. From the back steps on the west side, you can see great views of the Hudson River.
The monument is about 100 feet tall and 50 feet deep. The first design planned for a large "Peace" statue on top. But this was not added.
The bronze door at the bottom of the monument is usually locked. But it used to be open to visitors. Now, you can only go inside one day a year during Open House New York. The inside is covered with the same white marble as the outside. The inside has two levels. The lower level has six niches. The upper level has tall columns next to plain panels. Above that is a dome with a light in the center. The floor has a star design. In the middle is a bronze medal of the US symbol.
The outside columns hold up a decorated top part. This part has the words: "To the memory of the Brave Soldiers and Sailors Who Saved the Union." Eagles and other decorations are on top of this. The monument ends with a low, cone-shaped roof. It has a fancy marble decoration on top.
The Riverside Park Conservancy takes care of the plants around the monument.
How the Monument is Used
Parades and Celebrations
Many big Memorial Day celebrations have happened at this monument. The number of people who come has changed a lot over the years. Sometimes, many thousands of people have gathered here. For example, in 1907, 16,000 men marched in a parade. In 1911, 20,000 men and 150 groups took part. In 1922, 14,000 people joined the parade. The numbers went down in the 1990s. Only a few dozen people would come. But after the September 11 attacks, more people started coming again.
Movie and TV Backdrops
Besides Memorial Day, the monument has been used in movies. It has appeared in films like The Odd Couple, Godspell, and Parting Glances. It has also been a backdrop for TV shows like Law & Order and Sex and the City. In the mid-1980s, a group offered dance shows on the monument's steps. Since 2004, a theater company called Hudson Warehouse has used the monument. They perform Shakespeare plays on the back steps during the summer.
