Soldiers and Sailors Monument

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a tall granite column that stands 112 feet (34 meters) high in East Rock Park. Four bronze female figures stand at its base while an Angel of Peace crowns the top of the structure.

The monument was completed in 1887 to honor New Haven residents who died in four major American wars. These conflicts stretched from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War, spanning more than a century of the nation's history.

The monument holds the names of fallen soldiers from twelve regiments carved into bronze tablets that visitors can see and touch. These inscriptions show how the community chose to remember those who served across different wars and conflicts.

The interior can be visited on certain days if you arrange ahead of time to enter. A narrow spiral staircase leads up to an observation deck inside the monument where you can look out over the park.

The dedication ceremony in 1887 drew an enormous crowd of around 175,000 people to the site. Two famous Civil War generals, William Tecumseh Sherman and Philip Henry Sheridan, were among those who attended the celebration.

Location: New Haven

GPS coordinates: 41.32725,-72.90462

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:51