Hiker monument - Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, IL
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adgorn
N 41° 58.690 W 087° 43.356
16T E 440135 N 4647603
A figure of a soldier, dressed in uniform, holding a rifle in both hands across the front of his body. He stands atop a Wasuau Red Granite boulder.
Waymark Code: WMD2K2
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 11/10/2011
Views: 2
More from the Smithsonian database:
"Dimensions: Sculpture: approx. H. 8 ft. 5 in. (1600 lbs.).
Inscription: (Plaque on boulder:) Erected by public donations/In Memory of the Veterans/of the Spanish-American War/1898-1902/Dedicated 9-24-1926."
The Hiker is the memorial statue to the soldiers who fought in the Spanish American War, the Boxer Rebellion and the Filipino-American War. The first version of it was made for the University of Minnesota in 1906. There are two different versions of the statue - one by Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson and another by Allen George Newman. This one is of the Kitson design. (source Wikipedia)
Inscription on cross shaped bronze plaque in front of the statue:
"In 1898 Cuba, The Philippines and Puerto Rico were Spanish colonies. On February 15th of that year, the US Battleship Maine was blown up in Havana Harbor with the loss of 266 men. On April 21, 1898 the United States declared war with Spain - and Cuba, The Philippines and Puerto Rico were liberated.
The Philippine Insurrection followed and the Boxer China Rebellion was an offshoot of the Spanish-American War - ending July 4, 1902.
American Camp No. 30 United Spanish War Veterans dedicated the Hiker Monument September 9, 1926. This Honor Roll of 147 of our comrades is dedicated May 17, 1964, by the remaining six members of Camp No. 30 (names listed.)"
More about the cemetery from their website: (
visit link)
"The Bohemian National Cemetery of Chicago is a Fraternal not for profit cemetery founded in 1877 by Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak immigrants and their descendants to provide a dignified place for burials free of religious restraints. The cemetery is available to all religions, nationalities and races. The cemetery is located on the north side of Chicago. It is situated on 122 acres bounded by Pulaski Road on the West, Foster Avenue on the South, Bryn Mawr Avenue on the North and Central Park Avenue - Northeastern Illinois University - on the East."
There are numerous waymarks of artistic grave markers and monuments at Bohemian National. If you have a chance to take one of the tours offered, it is definitely worth it.