This fabulously huge memorial is located in the southeast portion of Patterson Park. It is a huge relief-like statue set in a huge concrete wall. There is a long walkway which makes its way to the monument. To the left is a World War I memorial flag pole.
One of the first of recent capital projects in Patterson Park, the restoration of the Pulaski Monument, which honors the Polish Revolutionary War hero, was completed in 2001. A celebration to mark the completion of the restoration of this monument was held in October 2001. There was a parade through the park to the monument where the Pulaski Monument Restoration Celebration began. The work was completed by Steven Tatti and Bob Pringle.
The restoration was in consequence of the 50th anniversary. The work, was handled under the leadership and guidance of the Pulaski Monument Restoration Committee, Polish Legion of American Veterans General Casimir Pulaski Post 209, the Baltimore City Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation, Department of Recreation and Park, and the Friends of Patterson Park and the monument was rededicated.
Casimir Pulaski was born in the late 1740s in Warsaw, Poland. In his native country he fought against Imperial Russia, winning fame and the respect for brilliant and daring attacks on the Russian forces attacking his country.
With recommendations from Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis de Lafayette, in 1777 Pulaski joined the American War for Independence. On September 15, 1777, he was commissioned a Brigadier General and made "Commander of the Horse." He is considered the "Father of the American Cavalry." At largely his own expense, he formed an independent cavalry and infantry corps in Baltimore, known at the time as "Pulaki's Legion." While leading a cavalry charge against the British at Savannah, Georgia, he was mortally wounded on October 9, 1779.
The following excerpts come from the Smithsonian inventory page for this sculpture.
SOURCE
Inscription
"(Relief, lower right corner:) SCHULER '42/CAPITAL PRODUCTS INC./L.IC. N.Y. (Base, along top edge, incised letters:) PULASKI (Base, long lower edge, incised letters:) -1748- BRIGADIER GENERAL COUNT CASIMIR PULASKI -1779-/HERO OF AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR - FATHER OF AMERICAN CAVALRY (Base, back:) HANS SCHULER/SC/THOMAS D'ALESANDRO, JR/MAYOR OF CITY OF BALTIMORE/A.C.RADZISZEWSKI/ARCHITECT signed Founder's mark appears."
Description
"The monument consists of a twenty-foot square of marble with a bronze relief panel depicting General Pulaski astride his horse leading the charge of his cavalry unit at the Siege of Savannah. Pulaski, his horse rearing back, is turned around in his saddle shouting commands back to his soldiers. With his proper right hand he thrusts a sword into the air, but the end of the sword is now missing. Paul Bentalou, one of Pulaski's captains, is shown on his horse just behind Pulaski. In the foreground a horse stumbles forward, almost falling to its knees. In the background the faces of more soldiers can be seen in low relief. The bronze relief is framed by a stone base, which is adorned with fluted pilasters on each side and a brick panel along the lower edge."
Remarks
"In 1929, the General Pulaski Monument Committee began making plans for a monument to Polish Count, Casimir Pulaski, who lost his life fighting for American independence during the Revolutionary War. Funds were solicited from Baltimore's Polish-American community and other groups, but a series of incidents delayed the monument. First was the failure during the depression of the bank where the monument fund had been deposited; then the shortage of bronze during World War II; and finally postwar inflation increased the original cost estimates and the project was stalled until the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore each contributed funds the monument's completion. Hans Schuler created the bronze relief and architect A. C. Radziszewski designed the marble setting."