Washington Monument (Milwaukee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washington Monument |
|
|---|---|
_after_renovation.jpg) |
|
| Artist | Richard Henry Park |
| Year | 1885 |
| Type | bronze sculpture |
| Dimensions | 280 cm × 100 cm × 100 cm (110 in × 41 in × 41 in) |
| Location | Wisconsin Ave. near 8th St. in front of MPL Central, Milwaukee |
| 43°2′19.643″N 87°55′22.266″W / 43.03878972°N 87.92285167°W | |
The Washington Monument in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a cool outdoor sculpture. It was created by an American artist named Richard Henry Park. You can find it on the Court of Honor, right in front of the Milwaukee Public Library's main building. This area is also close to Marquette University.
The sculpture is made of bronze. It shows a full-size statue of George Washington when he was 43 years old. He stands on a granite base. At the bottom, there are two more bronze figures: a woman pointing up at Washington, and a child looking up while holding a book. The statue was put up in 1885. A kind person named Elizabeth Plankinton paid for it. The monument was cleaned and fixed up between 2016 and 2018.
Contents
What Does the Washington Monument Look Like?
This sculpture is 10 feet and 6 inches tall. It shows George Washington when he was 43 years old. He is wearing a hat, a cape, boots, a jacket, a vest, and pants. He holds a sword with both hands in front of him.
At the bottom of the statue, there are two more bronze figures. These were added because Elizabeth Plankinton suggested them. One figure is a woman. She points up at the main statue with her left arm. The other figure is a child. The child looks up at Washington while holding an open book.
You can find some words carved into the sculpture. On the lower left side, it says "RH PARK SC". On the lower right side, it says "F. GALLI FUSERO". The front of the base simply says "WASHINGTON". On the back of the base, it says: "The Gift of / Elizabeth A. Plankinton / To the City of Milwaukee / 1885".
Why Was the Monument Built?
Richard Henry Park's George Washington statue was the very first public monument in Milwaukee. It was officially shown to the public on November 7, 1885. Elizabeth Plankinton, who many called Miss Lizzie, gave it to the city as a gift. She wanted to show her love for Milwaukee.
People at the dedication ceremony said that the monument would help future generations remember George Washington. It would be "a lesson for the young." Since it was the city's first public statue, it made sense to honor the nation's first president. The statue shows Washington wearing a perfect copy of the uniform worn by the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
The sculpture cost about $20,000. Thousands of people came to see it when it was first shown. Miss Lizzie herself did not attend. The statue was placed on W. Wisconsin Avenue. This street was one of the city's first parks. Later, this spot became known as the Court of Honor. This is because a king for the Milwaukee Midsummer Carnival Festival was crowned there. Every year on Washington's birthday, the Military Order of the Purple Heart places a wreath on the monument. They do this to honor its founder.
Who Was Richard Henry Park?
The artist, Richard Henry Park, was born on a farm in Connecticut in 1832. He decided to become a sculptor after seeing an art show by Hiram Powers. Park started by working as an apprentice, learning to cut marble. He made marble copies of other artists' work.
In 1871, Park moved to Florence, Italy. He met Thomas Hardy there. Even though he lived far away, he was still very popular with important people in Milwaukee. He met Elizabeth Plankinton while making a sculpture of her father. They even got engaged for a short time, but he later married a different woman. Park is also famous for making a silver statue of Justice. This statue was for Montana's display at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893.
How the Monument Was Restored
_before_restoration.jpg)
_close_view.jpg)
In 1994, a study by the Smithsonian American Art Museum said the sculpture was getting old and needed repairs. Washington's uniform was covered in dirt and rust. Also, part of the bronze woman's head at Washington's feet was missing. A detailed report in 2014 said similar things. The statue had not been fixed since it was first put up.
In July 2016, the statue was moved to a special studio in Forest Park, Illinois. A person named Andrzej Dajnowski was in charge of fixing it. Many people helped raise money for the work. It was expected to cost about $100,000. A group called the Westown Association gave $60,000.
Moving the statue showed some new problems. There was a lot of rust inside the base. This was a big issue because metal rods were put into Washington's legs when it was built. One of his legs was even starting to split. Also, it's possible that Washington's sword is not the original one. It might have been replaced a long time ago.
The fixed statue was put back on its base in January 2018. It is now a dark bronze color, not the green it used to be. The statue weighs 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) and is 10 feet tall. A crane lifted it into place. Milwaukee's Mayor Tom Barrett said that "our first piece of public art is in pristine condition."
