Maine Monument - NYC, NY - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

This is a Memorial to the USS Maine- the sinking of which on February 15, 1898 was blamed on the Spanish...and incited the Spanish American War.

The Smithsonian Inventory (visit link) describes the monument thusly:

" A massive pylon base surmounted by a bronze representation of Columbia Triumphant as a female figure in a seashell pulled by three seahorses. At the base of the pylon is Victory kneeling on a ship's prow. He holds aloft two olive wreaths. Behind him, Peace, a robed female figure seemingly in a trance, stretches out her arms and forms the apex of the triangular group arranged below her. To her right is a figure representing Courage and to her left is Fortitude. On the rear of the monument stands Justice, with eyes closed and arms raised, flanked by figures representing the Warrior and History. Located at either side of the base are the reclining figures representing the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean."

and provides the following inscriptions:

"(Front right side of lower base:) Attilio Piccirilli Sculptor (Front left side of lower base:) Harold Van Buren Magonigle FAIA Architect (Front of base:) TO/THE VALIANT SEAMEN/WHO PERISHED IN THE MAINE/BY FATE UNWARNED/IN DEATH UNAFRAID/MDCCCXCVII/MCMXII (Rear of base:) TO/THE FREEMEN/WHO DIED IN THE/WAR WITH SPAIN/THAT OTHERS/MIGHT BE FREE/MDCCCXCVII/MCMXII (Center of base, rear:) ERECTED THROUGH PUBLIC SUPSCRIPTION /BY THE NATIONAL MAINE MONUMENT COMMITTEE/JAMES GRANT WILSON - CHAIRMAN WILLIAM R. HEARST GEORGE F. SHRADY JOHN W. KELLER J. EDWARD SIMMONS (list of the names of crew members appears of the left side of the base and list of the officers appears on the right side of the base.) (Bronze plaque by Charles Keck on left rear of base:) MEMORIAM /USS MAINE/DESTROYED IN HAVANA HARBOR/FEBRUARY 15TH 1898/THIS TABLET IS CAST FROM METAL RECOVERED FROM THE USS MAINE. (PATRIOTISM/DEVOTION) (Bronze plaque, rear of base:) BY CHARLES KECK, 1913, INSTALLED 1936 signed"

There are some additional photos of the monument on this Wikipedia page (visit link) which also informs us:

"The Maine is best known for her catastrophic loss in Havana Harbor on the evening of 15 February 1898. Sent to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban revolt against Spain, she exploded suddenly without warning and sank quickly, killing nearly three quarters of her crew. The cause and responsibility for her sinking remained unclear after a board of inquiry. Nevertheless, popular opinion in the U.S., fanned by inflammatory articles printed in the "Yellow Press" by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, blamed Spain. The phrase "Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!" became a rallying cry for action, which came with the Spanish–American War later that year. While the sinking of the Maine was not a direct cause for action, it served as a catalyst, accelerating the approach to a diplomatic impasse between the U.S. and Spain.

The cause of the Maine's sinking remains the subject of speculation. Suggestions have included an undetected fire in one of her coal bunkers, a naval mine and her deliberate sinking to drive the U.S. into a war with Spain."

TITLE: Maine Monument ARTIST(S): Attlio Piccirilli DATE: 1913 MEDIUM: Sculpture: Gilded bronze figure group; Base: Tennessee pink marble pylon with marble figures. CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 76003527 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: in Central Park where it meets Columbus Circle at 59th Street in New York City. DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: no differences noted

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.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   01/15/2023 Ariberna visited it 01/15/2023 Ariberna visited it 06/07/2022 childofatom visited it 04/07/2022 hzoi visited it 06/13/2019 kilroy18 visited it 03/17/2019 Lestiv visited it 07/29/2018 LeviSat visited it 05/17/2018 Trail Blaisers visited it 12/05/2017 Castor007 visited it 10/09/2017 Go Boilers! visited it 08/02/2017 Searcher28 visited it 07/30/2015 Chrysafenios visited it 11/10/2014 gemeloj visited it 08/05/2014 SafariBabe visited it 11/09/2013 dadako visited it 09/01/2013 lu2lu visited it 08/16/2013 VisN visited it 08/15/2013 Lucky_Al visited it 08/01/2013 GPComd visited it 07/23/2013 Metro2 visited it

View all visits/logs