Long Description:
From the Historic National Road
"http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2278/">web site:
"The Historic National Road was the nation's first federally funded
interstate highway. It opened the nation to the west and became a
corridor for the movement of goods and people. Today, visitors
experience a physical timeline, including classic inns, tollhouses,
diners, and motels that trace 200 years of American history."
From the IUPUI (Indiana University - Purdue University
Indianapolis) "http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/kade/soldiers.html">web
site:
"At the very center of Indianapolis is the "State Soldiers' and
Sailors' Monument" (1902), designed by Bruno Schmitz (1858-1916),
Germany's foremost architect of national monuments. Completed in
1901, the Monument appears to be Schmitz's only commission outside
of Germany and Switzerland. Most of the bronze and stone sculptures
on the Monument were designed, executed and manufactured by
Germans. The limestone sculptures are the work of Vienna-born
sculptor Rudolf Schwarz (1866-1912). The bronze Army Astragal
sculptural band above the monument base was designed by Nicolaus
Geiger (1849-1897) of Berlin. The Astragal and the eight candelabra
were manufactured in Berlin. The State Soldiers' and Sailors'
Monument was dedicated in 1902 to Indiana's heroes who died in wars
before World War I. Erected as a memorial to the soldiers and
sailors of the War for the Union (1861-65), it also commemorates
the War with Mexico (1846-48), Indian and British Wars (1811-12),
War of the Revolution and the capture of Vincennes from the British
on February 25, 1779. The Monument rises from a circular plaza, 342
feet in diameter, where once stood the governor's house--but where
no governor ever lived. At the lower level of the Monument is a
Civil War exhibit.
"Monument Circle," as it is called today, is the site of
frequent festivals and lunchtime concerts. Water cascades into
collecting pools brilliantly illuminated at night. For a panoramic
view of the city, one can walk or take the elevator 230 feet up to
the glass enclosed balcony. From the glassed-in observation area,
the original city plan of Indianapolis is apparent, although modern
high-rise buildings have begun to dominate the view.
The "mile square" was patterned after Washington, D.C. The
center was known from its beginnings as the "Governor's Circle,"
since according to Ralston's plan, the Governor's mansion was to be
built there. The geometric pattern of roadways would spread from
the circle, surrounded by the circular plaza, with four diagonal
avenues leading outward, and streets that cross at right
angles.
In 1821 the mile square was still almost unbroken forest with
only a few cabins within miles. Weather conditions added to the
early settlers' difficulties. Dense underbrush, decaying
vegetation, mosquitoes and other insects brought an epidemic of
illness that was finally stopped by cold weather. In the years
following, new settlers came with astonishing rapidity, and the 40
cabins in 1822 increased to one hundred in 1825. Also in 1822, a
market house was built in the center of the Governor's Circle, with
market held every Saturday, until 1824.
In 1827 the Assembly voted $4,000 to build the Governor's
mansion, the final cost was closer to $6,500. Neither Governor
James Brown Ray nor any other governor ever lived there, but it
housed a diverse array of tenants. Seldom has one house had such a
variety of uses. Finally, in 1857 the Governor's Mansion was
demolished. The Civil War brought much activity to the Governor's
Circle, including young men congregating to be mustered into
service.
During the war and the years immediately following, the city
grew rapidly. In 1867 the City Council ordered the Governor's
Circle graded, fenced, walks laid out, benches placed, and the
whole encircled by a sidewalk. Its name was changed to "Circle
Park."
There had been talk and early attempts at building a war
monument. In 1875 a Monument Association was formed and it raised
$1,000. Since plans did not materialize, the money was set aside.
Several locations had been proposed, including Crown Hill
Cemetery.
In 1877 Governor Oliver P. Morton had died and funds were raised
to honor the great war governor with a permanent memorial. A
sculptor contest was won by Franklin Simmons, an American Sculptor
who lived in Rome, Italy. The Morton Statue by Simmons was placed
in the center of "Circle Park," facing south, and was unveiled June
15, 1884.
In 1887 the Indiana General Assembly passed a bill committing
the state to build a state monument to honor the veterans of the
Civil War. The legislature made a grant of $200,000, appointed a
Monument Commission and ordered the commissioners to build the
Monument "on the ground commonly known as Circle Park." The
appointed commission held an international architectural
competition for the design of the memorial. Ten outstanding
American architectural firms were invited to submit designs, among
them Frederick Baumann of Chicago and Adolph Scherrer of
Indianapolis. Also advertisements were placed in the newspapers of
leading cities in the United States, Canada, England, France,
Germany and Italy, inviting architects to enter into the
competition. Seventy designs were submitted and, to conceal the
contestants' identity, entries were identified by number only. The
Commissioners and their Board of Experts chose the shaft design of
Number 4. The winning entry design of Number 4, for a towering
obelisk, fountains and monumental sculpture, was by Bruno Schmitz
of Berlin. His work was familiar to the commissioners as he and
James F. Gookins, the secretary of the board, had been fellow
artists and friends in Munich.
Schmitz was invited to Indianapolis and was appointed
supervising architect in February 1888. Frederick Baumann of
Chicago was appointed deputy architect and authorized
representative for Schmitz. Schmitz was no stranger to
Indianapolis. Otto Lieber, who lived in Schmitz's home town of
Düsseldorf, had introduced him to his brother Hermann Lieber of
Indianapolis, and to Julius Lemcke and Theodore Stempfel. While in
Indianapolis he usually stayed with the Liebers or the Lemckes.
In May 1888 the contract for the central foundation was let to
Enos Hege of Indianapolis. It was completed by the end of the year.
In January 1889 Schmitz brought a plaster model of the monument,
and on August 22, 1889, the cornerstone was laid. In it is as large
box containing reports, a list of all soldiers from Indiana who
fought in the War for the Union, and other items including a
photograph of Schmitz. The inscription on the cornerstone
reads:
August 22, 1889
ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF INDIANA
Act of General Assembly March 3, 1887
The Monument, commemorating the war between the States, was the
first in the nation to be dedicated to the common soldier. It took
twelve years to complete at a cost of app. $600,000.
In 1895 the Board of Commissioners was abolished and a Board of
Regents was established, with Gen. Fred Knefler of Indianapolis as
President.
The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument is built of Indiana Oolitic
limestone from Terre Haute Stone Company quarries at Stinesville,
IN. Its total height is 284 ft. 6 in. (15 ft. shorter than the
Statue of Liberty). 32 flights of stairs with 330 steps lead to the
observation deck. An elevator was installed and began carrying the
public to the top in April 1894.
On the north and south sides, stone steps, 70 feet long, lead to
bronzed entrance doors. Terraced fountains flow at the east and
west sides. The cascade fountains each hold a minimum capacity of
seven thousand gallons of water per minute. The water for the
fountains is supplied by wells beneath the Monument. The water
flows from the terrace level down three tiers into the pool which
is bordered by a molded stone curb. The corners of the fountain
pools are marked by ornate bronze candelabra. Three sides of each
pedestal have bronze bison-head foundations from which water spouts
into the attached stone basin. At the second-tier level are a
second set of four candelabra, each 40 feet high, which rest upon
sculpted stone pedestals, bearing bronze swags and American flag
escutcheons. The four large bronze candelabra, four bronze fountain
candelabra, and twelve bison heads were designed by Bruno Schmitz,
They were modeled and executed in “hammered aluminum bronze” by the
studio Bruno Schmitz, and cast in Berlin.
Schulte, a German who was in charge of the work, spoke very
little English. Many of the workmen had great difficulty in
following instructions. Frank Langsenkamp, who did many of the
castings, came to the rescue. With his help and knowledge of
German, the candelabra were easily assembled. The model for the
motto “To Indiana’s Silent Victors” was furnished by Frank
Fertig.
In 1897 Schmitz brought from Germany sculptor Rudolf Schwarz. He
was hired essentially to do the “War” and “Peace” groupings (the
larger ones on the east and west), designed by Bruno Schmitz and
modeled by Hermann Matzen. The West-side group represents “Peace”
with the returning soldiers. In the center, Liberty holds the flag,
at her feet a freed slave lifts up a broken chain. The angel of
peace holds the wreath of Victory and the olive branch of Peace.
The East-side group represents “War.” It is represented by a battle
scene showing cavalry, charging infantry, and artillery. In the
center the goddess of war urges on the charge, while Columbia in
the background holds high the Stars and Stripes.
Schwarz designed and sculpted two more related groupings below
them, just above the water: “The Dying Soldier” and “The Return
Home.” The groupings on each side obviously relate to each other;
the larger allegorical “War” and then beneath it the smaller
(albeit still huge) grouping, translates the allegory into human
terms “The Dying Soldier” while “The Return Home” represents the
homecoming of the victorious troops and the joyous reunion of
families.
The Bronze Doors for all Monument entrances were designed and
executed by Rudolf Schwarz and cast by American Bronze Company of
Chicago. Above the entrance facing south is the inscription of
dedication: “To Indiana’s Silent Victors.” Directly above the
entrances are the rolls of honor inscribed with the State’s
contributions to America’s armed conflicts.
Also by Schwarz are the four soldier figures, two flanking each
entrance, and each cut from a huge block of stone. The two statues
on the south side represent Infantry and a Cavalry Scout. On the
north side the Artillery and Navy are represented.
The story goes that when Schwarz’s finished work was viewed, all
of the soldiers were bearded. This was deemed too German. So
Schwarz patiently went to work and shaved the beards off with his
chisel.
The squared limestone shaft juts 284 feet, 6 inches into the
air, and is capped by a 38-foot high statue representing “Victory.”
Three bronze astragals are encircling the Monument. The lowest
astragal, 70 feet above the monument base, is one of its impressive
features. It was designed by the Berliner Nicolaus Geiger
(1849-1897), noted for his naturalistic sculptures and public
monuments. He had his work cast by the Statue Foundry Gladenbeck
& Son, Berlin. It depicts the army and shows the implements and
carnage of war. The second astragal, 12 feet above the first,
representing the Navy, and the third, another 80 feet higher, were
designed by George W. Brewster of Cleveland. “Victory,” popularly
known to Hoosiers as “Miss Indiana,” was also designed by Brewster.
The Torch is emblematic to the light of civilization. The young
eagle atop her head represents freedom. Her right hand holds a
sword, the point rests upon the globe, symbolizing the army to
which victory was due. Victory faces south, supposedly to look over
the vanquished battlefields of the South.
Bronze statues of Gen. George Rogers Clark and of Govs. William
Henry Harrison, James Whitcomb, and Oliver P. Morton commemorate
four historical periods of Indiana development. The Morton statue
is that by Franklin Simmons. It honors the great war governor and
represents the Civil War for the Union (1861-65). The statues of
Clark, Whitcomb, and Harrison were designed by John H. Mahoney of
Indianapolis. George Rogers Clark represents the War of the
Revolution and the capture of Vincennes from the British on
February 25, 1779. James Whitcomb represents the War with Mexico
(1846-48). William H. Harrison represents the Battle of Tippecanoe
and Indian and British Wars (1811-12). There is a story that
William Hoeltke, a German grocer on East Washington Street, served
as a model for Harrison.
The Monument was officially dedicated with impressive ceremonies
on May 15, 1902.
In 1918 Colonel Oran Perry created a photo gallery of military
history in the lower level. Since October 1999 there is the Colonel
Eli Lilly Civil War Museum in the lower level of the Monument. It
tells the story of the Civil War, including that of the 32nd (1st
German) Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
The Monument has been decorated for Christmas since 1945. Since
1962 every year the Monument becomes a Christmas tree."
