Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (New Haven) facts for kids
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is a special monument built to remember soldiers. It stands on top of East Rock in New Haven, Connecticut. This monument is very tall, about 112 feet (34 meters) high. You can see it from far away, even from Long Island Sound. It was finished in 1887. The monument honors people from New Haven who died fighting in four important wars: the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, and the American Civil War. There are 87 steps to climb to the very top!
Contents
History of the Monument
Planning the Memorial
People started talking about building this monument as early as 1878. A group of Civil War veterans, called the Grand Army of the Republic, wanted a big war memorial in New Haven. They worked hard to convince people to support the idea. In 1879, a spot was chosen on the New Haven Green.
In 1882, a special committee was formed, and money was raised for the monument. However, there were some legal problems that stopped the work for a while.
Choosing a Design
In 1883, the committee held a contest to find the best design for the monument. Many architects sent in their ideas. Famous architects like George Keller and Augustus Saint-Gaudens were asked to submit designs, but they said no.
In 1884, the monument's location was changed to East Rock. This happened because the city council decided to keep an old state building that wasn't used anymore, which meant the New Haven Green spot was no longer available. This caused more delays.
Building and Opening
Two years after the design contest began, a design by Moffit & Doyle was chosen. It looked like old Greek and Roman buildings. Their plan included a tall granite pillar, bronze statues, and a place to look out from.
Work began in 1886. A New Haven company, Smith & Sperry, built the monument. Other companies helped make the bronze parts. The monument was officially opened on June 17, 1887. It was a huge event! About 175,000 people came to the ceremony and parade. Famous generals like William Tecumseh Sherman and Philip Henry Sheridan were special guests.
Words on the Monument
The Soldiers and Sailors monument has many words carved into its sides. These words remember important battles from the wars.
Civil War Battles
On the southwest side, you can read about battles from the American Civil War:
- Gettysburg
- Port Hudson
- Fort Fisher
- The years: 1861-1865
Revolutionary War Battles
The southeast side lists battles from the American Revolutionary War:
- Bunker Hill
- Bennington
- Saratoga
- The years: 1775-1783
War of 1812 Battles
On the northeast side, you'll find battles from the War of 1812:
- Lake Erie
- Lake Champlain
- New Orleans
- The years: 1812-1815
Mexican War Battles
The northwest side shows battles from the Mexican–American War:
Remembering the Fallen
This northwest side also has a large plaque. It says: "1861-1865 Soldiers and Sailors of New Haven who died in defense of the Union." Below this, there is a list of people from New Haven who died in the Civil War. These were soldiers from twelve different groups of infantrymen (soldiers who fought on foot). The border of the plaque shows military badges and flags. Some of the battle names carved around this border include:
