Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch facts for kids

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, south face

A vintage photo of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch from around 1905

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch is a special monument in Bushnell Park, Hartford, Connecticut. It was built to remember the brave people from Hartford who fought in the American Civil War. About 4,000 citizens from Hartford served in the war. Sadly, 400 of them died fighting for the Union side. This arch is important because it was the very first permanent triumphal arch ever built in America. A triumphal arch is a large, arch-shaped structure built to celebrate victories or important events.

History of the Arch

The idea for the arch began on October 21, 1879. A group of people formed a committee to hold a design competition. This competition took place in 1881. However, the committee did not approve any of the winning designs.

In 1884, they chose George Keller, an architect from Hartford. He created a unique design for the arch. It had two towers on each side, like those found in Norman castles. The main arch in the middle looked like a Gothic church arch. It was also decorated with a classical frieze. A frieze is a long, narrow band of sculptures or carvings.

The arch also featured statues. These were modeled by a sculptor named Albert Entress, who was from Switzerland. The entire arch was built using brownstone from Portland, Connecticut. It was finished in 1886 and cost about $60,000. The arch was officially opened on September 17, 1886.

Art on the Arch

The arch has two main friezes, one on the north side and one on the south side.

• The north frieze was made by Samuel James Kitson. It tells a story about war. On the right side, you can see a figure of General Ulysses S. Grant looking at his soldiers. On the left, marines are shown jumping from a boat to rush towards Confederate troops.
• The south frieze was created by Caspar Buberl. This one tells a story about peace. In the middle, there is a female figure who represents the City of Hartford. She is surrounded by citizens who are welcoming their soldiers home from the war.

Both friezes were made by the Boston Terra Cotta Company.

The arch also has symbols for the four military services. These are found in the spandrels, which are the triangular spaces above the arch.

• An anchor stands for the Navy.
• Crossed cannons represent the Artillery.
• Crossed sabers symbolize the Cavalry.
• Crossed rifles stand for the Infantry.

There are also six large statues, each eight feet tall, on the towers. These figures represent different types of people: a farmer, a blacksmith, a mason, a student, a carpenter, and an African-American breaking free from chains.

At the very top of the towers are angels. One angel is playing a trumpet, and the other is playing cymbals. Both angels face south, as if welcoming the soldiers returning home. During a restoration project between 1986 and 1988, the original angels were replaced with new ones made of bronze.

The architect, George Keller, and his wife, Mary, are buried inside the memorial.

Inscriptions on the Arch

There are special messages carved into tablets on the arch.

A tablet on the southeast tower says:

IN HONOR
OF THE MEN OF HARTFORD
WHO SERVED
AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL
ON LAND AND ON SEA
IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION
THEIR GRATEFUL TOWNSMEN
HAVE RAISED THIS MEMORIAL

This message means that the people of Hartford built this monument to honor the men who fought and died for the Union during the Civil War.

The tablet on the southwest tower says:

DURING THE CIVIL WAR
1861–1865
MORE THAN 4,000 MEN OF HARTFORD
BORE ARMS IN THE NATIONAL CAUSE
NEARLY 400 OF WHOM
DIED IN THE SERVICE
ERECTED 1885
GEORGE KELLER, ARCHITECT
CASPER BUBERL & SAMUEL KITSON SCULPTORS
BOSTON
TERRA COTTA CO

This inscription tells us that over 4,000 men from Hartford fought in the Civil War between 1861 and 1865. Nearly 400 of them died. It also lists the year it was built (1885) and the names of the architect and sculptors.

Gallery

• 

  The North frieze, showing scenes of war.

• 

  The South frieze, showing scenes of peace.

• 

  A statue representing The Mason.

• 

  A statue representing The Carpenter.

• 

  A statue representing The Blacksmith.

• 

  A statue representing The Farmer.

See also

In Spanish: Arco Memorial de los Soldados y Marineros para niños