This sculpture of Albert Woolson stands in the Fairview Museum of History and Art, in Fairview, Utah. It is a replica of the sculpture that stands in the Gettysburg National Battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Avard Fairbanks sculpted both statues. The sign at the statue reads:
ALBERT WOOLSON
1956
Avard Fairbanks - Sculptor
This is a monument to Albert Woolson,
at age 107, the last surviving member of
the Union Army of the Republic, (the
North), from the American Civil War.
A bronze cast of this sculpture was dedi-
cated in 1956 at the Gettysburg National
Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
This slightly larger than life-sized statue of Albert Woolson depicts him sitting on what appears to be a low rock wall. In his right hand he holds a straight cane at his chest. His left hand rests on the rock wall, just over his Civil War era hat, with its GAR emblem. His right foot rests near the wall, while his left foot is extended forward. He looks forward and slightly to the left. He wears a dress shirt, suit and tie. On the left breast of his suit hangs a medal. The plinth is a short light colored museum display stand.
"Albert Woolson
Born: February 11th, 1847** - Died: August 2nd 1956
Albert Henry Woolson was the last surviving member of the Union Army which fought in the American Civil War. He is credited as being the last surviving Civil War veteran. There are some that believe several Southern soldiers out lived Woolson, but this has not been verified.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Willard Woolson, father of Albert, would enlist in the Northern Army. When the family lost contact with Willard they found that he had been wounded at the Battle of Shiloh and had been transported to an Army hospital in Windom, Minnesota. Albert and his mother would move to Windom to be near Willard. Soon after their arrival, Willard Woolson would succumb to his wound. Albert, following in his father’s footsteps enlisted as a drummer boy in Company C, 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment on October 10, 1864. Albert and his companions of Company C would see no action during the Civil War and would be mustered out of the army on September 7th, 1865.
Woolson returned to Minnesota after the war and was employed as a carpenter. He would spend the remainder of his life in Minnesota, passing away in Duluth at the age of 109 (**some say 106 due to some discrepancy with census records). He would be buried with full military honors and his remains reside in Park Hill cemetery.
Woolson would become a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), an organization composed of Civil War veterans. He would hold several positions in this organization. Soon after Woolson’s death the G.A.R. would be disbanded." (
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"Dr. Avard Tennyson Fairbanks
Born: March 2, 1897 - Died: January 1, 1987
Sculptor of the Albert Woolson Statue, Gettysburg PA.
Avard Tennyson Fairbanks was born in Provo Utah in 1897. The son of John B. Fairbanks a well known artist, Avard will continue the family legacy as a prolific sculptor. With the death of his mother Lilly when he was only about a year old, and his father busy providing for his family Avard’s brother J. Leo Fairbanks will manage the family.
At the age of 12, Avard showed interest in sculpting. With the guidance of J. Leo, Avard’s first work was a clay model of a rabbit. This model would win first prize in the State Fair. At the age of 13, Avard would follow his father to New York City. Modeling animals from the Bronx Zoological Gardens and showing a natural talent for sculpting, Avard would be awarded scholarships to study at the Arts Students League at New York. During this time Avard would become personally acquainted with several notable sculptors. These included Cyrus E. Dallin (sculptor of the Winfield Scott Hancock on the Pennsylvania Memorial) and Lorado Taft (sculptor of the 3rd, 4th Michigan Infantry Monuments and the Michigan “Custer” Memorial). In 1913 Avard would move to Paris to study at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts. While in Paris he would also study at the Ecole de la Grande Chaumiere and other noted schools.
Today, Fairbanks is considered one of the most distinguished sculptors in America. His statues have been erected around the world. Throughout the United States, Fairbanks is particularly well known for his Lincoln monuments. Four of his works are on permanent display in the U.S. Capitol Building’s statuary hall as well as four marble busts of Lincoln located in Ford Theater, Washington DC.
Fairbanks would sit with Albert Woolson, and while in conversation with the last veteran of the G.A.R. , model in clay the likeness of Woolson we now see on the monument at Gettysburg. Next time you’re in Gettysburg, stop and study the wonderful work of Dr. Avard Fairbanks" (
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"The Fairview Museum of History and Art has a fascinating selection of items, documents and artifacts from the greater Fairview area. Boasting magnificent sculptures by renowned artist Dr. Avard T. Fairbanks the museum is sure to impress any visitor. The crown jewel of the museum is perhaps the life-size cast replica of a Columbian Mammoth skeleton unearthed in 1988, only 18 miles east of Fairview at Huntington Reservoir." (
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"An outstanding regional cultural center which showcases regional history, art and a world-class collection of Arvard T. Fairbanks's works of art. The museum features sculptures, a replica of the Huntington Mammoth, carvings, and artwork. Two buildings of exhibits will keep visitors engaged for hours." (
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"The museum is full of historical data, artifacts pictures and artwork. Part of the museum is the Natural History Building which houses a full scale replica of a nearly fully intact Columbian mammoth. The mammoth was unearthed on the nearby Wasatch Plateau in 1988 while excavating the Huntington Reservoir.
The work of one of Utah’s most famous artists, Avard T. Fairbanks, is also on display at the Fairview Museum." (
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The museum houses historical artifacts, art ( a wide variety of sculptures and paintings); provides humanities lectures, school tours, local historic archive, oral history collection, and family history collection. In the central atrium is a New Columbian Mammoth skeleton, while upstairs is an extensive Avard Fairbank sculpture collection.