Kansas Memorial -- Vicksburg NMP, Vicksburg MS
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Benchmark Blasterz
N 32° 22.465 W 090° 50.031
15S E 703789 N 3584001
The underwhelming Kansas Memorial stands forlornly on Grant Ave. at Vicksburg National Military Park. It is listed in the SIRIS database.
Waymark Code: WMMGWP
Location: Mississippi, United States
Date Posted: 09/19/2014
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member silverquill
Views: 4

The weirdest monument at the park, this one cost the citizens of Kansas a total of $5000.

When it comes to war memorials, you get what you pay for -- or don't.

Adding to that impression is this tidbit: unlike for every other memorial, no official dedication ceremony was ever held. No politicians, no descendants, no state flags, no speeches, no dignitaries, no nothing. The official state memorial of Kansas was trucked in, uncrated, assembled, and left behind in the woods of Mississippi.

Blasterz looked at this memorial for a while, puzzling over it. We had no idea what this was -- a tornado? Some kind of modernistic expression of the infinite nature of death and short writhing thread of life running through it? Wagon wheels across the prairie interrupted by a vortex of war?

Turns out, we were overthinking the Kansas Memorial, and didn't see ANY of the symbolism alleged to be encompassed by it.

From the National Park Service website: (visit link)

"KANSAS MEMORIAL

The Kansas State Memorial is located on Grant Avenue. It was erected in Vicksburg National Military Park in June 1960 at a cost to the State of Kansas of $5,000. However, no formal dedication ceremony was ever held.

The text on the plaque placed by the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War reads:

"The bottom circle represents the unity of the pre Civil War Era,

The broken circle in the center represents the Union torn asunder by the war 1861-1865

The perfect circle at the top depicts the regained unity of the post war era

An eagle atop all typifies the glorious majesty of our country."

If they say so.

Blasterz think it looks more like an abstract bicycle parts sculpture than a war memorial, but that's just our opinion.

Others must have had the same opinion, since the monument was installed in 1960, and the EXPLANATORY plaque was installed in 1973 by the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Without disrespecting the men of Kansas who suffered, died, and fought here, our opinion is that this is an underwhelming memorial, and the fighting men of Kansas deserved more... they at least deserved the respect of a monument dedication ceremony.
TITLE: Kansas Memorial

ARTIST(S): John E. Brink

DATE: 1960

MEDIUM: Sculpture: bronze; Base: pebbled marble and red granite.

CONTROL NUMBER: IAS MS000335

Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]

PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Grant Ave., Vicksburg NMP Vicksburg MS


DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
none


Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.
Search for...
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Bing Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures
Nearest Geocaches
Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point
Recent Visits/Logs:
Date Logged Log  
iconions visited Kansas Memorial -- Vicksburg NMP, Vicksburg MS 10/09/2014 iconions visited it
Benchmark Blasterz visited Kansas Memorial -- Vicksburg NMP, Vicksburg MS 09/20/2014 Benchmark Blasterz visited it

View all visits/logs