This beautiful, heroic-sized statue is one of 8 statues of historic Civil War figures featured at the Pennsylvania State Memorial. Meade stands in an especially designed niche on the rear or northwest facing of the gigantic memorial. (A visitor would face southeast to view this side). Each of the four sides has two statues, on either end flanking the arch. There are two on the front, Lincoln (No. 1) and Curtin (No. 2) and moving to the right or counterclockwise, pass the Hancock (No. 3) and Birney (No. 4) statues, then moving to the back pass the Gregg statue (No. 5) & the Pleasonton statue (No. 6) and now you have arrived on the left side of the monument. Wave hi to Reynolds in the No. 7 position and the Meade statue is in the second position, and right of the arch, the last of the statues (No. 7 by my count). The subject mater, General George Meade, commanded the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Gettysburg.
George Gordon Meade (December 31, 1815 – November 6, 1872) was a career United States Army officer and civil engineer involved in coastal construction, including several lighthouses. He fought with distinction in the Seminole War and Mexican-American War. During the American Civil War he served as a Union general, rising from command of a brigade to the Army of the Potomac. He is best known for defeating Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
The Pennsylvania State Memorial and the Meade statue are located on Hancock Avenue within a triangular area whose borders consist of Pleasonton Avenue, Humphreys Avenue and Hancock Avenue. The huge Pennsylvania monument faces the southwest. 
There is a dedicated parking area to the rear of the memorial which can accommodate nine cars. Additionally, parking is available on the side of the Hancock Avenue (one way only) in white painted spaces. There is also a rest station with bathrooms and a broken water fountain to the right of the parking lot (this is a one way road). This nearby comfort station was completed in 1933 as the first Gettysburg Parkitecture structure. Please be mindful of not parking on the grass or anything green, lest ye be ticketed. I visited this specific statue on July 5, 2012 and again on August 13, 2012, both times in the late afternoon using a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera and a General Electric A1050 10MP Digital Camera with 5X Optical Zoom for the photos.
The statue is eight feet high and of bronze. Physically, it is a standing portrait of Meade, resting on a foot high, rectangular plinth with his last name deeply incised in capital letters on the front. Meade is dressed in a military jacket draped down to just above the knee, 16 buttons up and down his uniform/jacket (8 on either side), a belt with buckle with what appears to be an eagle upon it. His proper arm is bent at a right angle and is proper right hand is thrust upon his hip while his proper left hand is at his side, slightly to the rear. The sword is held at his waist on his proper left side, the hilt rising above his waistline to just under the armpit. He wears riding boots which rise just above the knee, creased in various places. His proper left leg is thrust forward, half of his foot extending beyond the plinth (an interesting effect) and the other foot even with his shoulders, bent slightly inward. He gazes dead ahead like an ever watching sentinel. He wears a hat with a large brim, pushed even with his eyes, matching his steely gaze. He has a grizzly looking face with a beard connected to a rough-looking mustache. Overall, the statue is very real with wrinkles in the clothes, detail everywhere and a sense of realism.
In 1907, $150,000 was appropriated to erect a suitable memorial to honor all Pennsylvanians who participated in the battle at Gettysburg. The design submitted by architect W. Liance Cottrell was selected amongst artists who submitted designs and the Harrison Granite Company was chosen to execute the design. Construction on the memorial began in the summer of 1909. However, at the time of the dedication on Sept. 27, 1910, the eight portrait statues Cottrell envisioned for the niches on either side of each archway were missing due to the lack of funds. In the year following the dedication, an additional $40,000 was appropriated to create the statues, and the Van Amringe Granite Company was given the contract. The statues were cast at the Gorham Manufacturing Company and were installed in April of 1913 and the entire memorial was rededicated July 4, 1913. The total cost for the memorial was $200,000. The artists specifically responsible for the Reynolds statue were sculptor Lee Oskar Lawrie (1877 - 1963); architect W. Liance Cottrell; Harrison Granite Company, fabricator; Gorham Manufacturing Company, founder and Van Amringe Granite Company, fabricator.
The Pennsylvania State Memorial (and Meade Statue) is a contributing feature to the Gettysburg National Military Park Historic District which is nationally significant under NR Criteria A, B, C & D. Areas of Significance: Military, Politics/Government, Landscape Architecture, Conservation, Archeology-Historic. Period of Significance: 1863-1938. The original National Register Nomination was approved by the Keeper March 19, 1975. An update to this nomination was approved by the Keeper on January 23, 2004. The monument and statues are identified as structure number MN260.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 19 Civil War State & National Memorial Monuments of the GBMA Era (1863-1895). Built to commerate Pennsylvania officers & soldiers serving at Gettysburg campaign. Designed by 6 sculptors: Samuel A. Murray, J. Otto Schweizer, W. Clark Noble, Lee O. Lawrie, Cyrus E. Dallin, J. Massey Rhind.
Short Physical Description:
Mn is a 4 sided raised pedestal w/bronze tablets (34"x72") listing PA soldiers. Set on 100' sq. base. Arched passages lead to domed interior. Dome is topped w/bronze winged victory. Double bronze statues located in niches on all 4 sides. 4 oversized reliefs adorn the upper observation deck walls.
Long Physical Description:
Monument is a four-sided raised granite pedestal with bronze tablets listing Pennsylvania soldiers and set on a 100 foot square base. It has arched central passages to the domed interior. The dome is topped with a bronze winged victory. Double bronze statues are located in niches on all four sides. Four oversized granite reliefs adorn the upper observation deck parapet walls. A concrete pathway leads from Hancock Avenue to the monument in a Y shape. Designed by W. Liance Cottrell and sculptured by various American artists, including Samuel Murray, J. Massey Rhind, and J. Otto Schweizer. Located on the east side of Hancock Avenue.
Concrete pathway leads from Hancock Ave. to mn in a Y shape.
My Sources
1.
NRHP Narrative
2.
SIRIS
3.
Stone Sentinels
4.
Virtual Gettysburg
5.
Draw the Sword
6.
Wikipedia
7.
Wikipedia
8.
Dcmemorials