Victory Eagle facts for kids

The Victory Eagle is a special bronze statue. It was made to remember the brave soldiers and people who were hurt or died in World War I. This was a very big war that happened a long time ago. We don't know who the artist was. But two bird experts, Thomas Roberts and Otto Widmann, helped design it.

The statue shows a strong eagle with its wings spread wide. It looks like it's protecting two baby eagles in a nest. This design shows how the United States protects its people. These statues were first placed on big stone bases. But over time, they have all been moved to new spots.

The Victory Eagle Statues

What Are They?

The Victory Eagle statues are made of bronze. They show a large eagle. Its wings are open, like it's guarding something. Under its wings are two small eaglets in a nest. This shows the idea of protection. It represents the United States protecting its citizens.

These statues were created in the early 1920s. They were meant to be placed along a special road. This road was called the Victory Highway. The highway crossed the entire United States.

Why Were They Made?

The statues were planned to mark each county line along the Victory Highway. The original idea was to have two eagles at each crossing. One eagle would be on each side of the road. This would create a long chain of monuments. It would stretch from one side of the country to the other.

The chain would go from San Francisco in California to New York City in New York. At the very ends of the highway, there would be even bigger displays. These would have many eagles. They would also include bronze statues of a soldier, a sailor, and a Red Cross nurse.

However, there was a problem. The statues needed money from private people. This means the government did not pay for them. Then, the Great Depression started. This was a very hard time for the economy. People lost their jobs and money. Because of this, the plan could not be finished. Only six of these special monuments were ever put up.

Where Can You Find Them?

Even though the full plan didn't happen, six Victory Eagle statues were installed. They have been moved from their first spots. But you can still see them today.

Here are the places where you can find them:

• Lawrence, Kansas: This statue was first at the Douglas–Leavenworth County line. It was moved in 1982. Now it is at Dyche Hall at the University of Kansas.
• Topeka, Kansas: This eagle is in Gage Park. It was moved from the Shawnee–Douglas County line.
• Wamego, Kansas: This statue is still in Wamego.
• Truckee, California: This eagle was moved from the California–Nevada border.
• Sacramento, California: You can find one in Sacramento.
• Antioch, California: This statue was first in Oakley, California. It was moved to Antioch in 1976.