Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Civil War memorial at East Rock Park, New Haven, United States.
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a tall granite column rising about 112 feet (34 meters) in East Rock Park, New Haven. Four bronze female figures stand at its base, and an Angel of Peace tops the column above them.
The monument was completed in 1887 to honor New Haven residents who died in four major American wars, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. It was built during a period when many American cities were raising public memorials to their fallen.
The bronze tablets at the base of the monument carry the names of fallen soldiers from New Haven, and visitors can reach out and touch them directly. These tablets cover twelve regiments and make remembrance something physical and personal rather than distant.
Access to the inside of the monument is not available every day, so it is worth checking ahead before making a specific trip to go in. A narrow spiral staircase leads to an observation deck at the top, offering a view over the park.
The dedication ceremony in 1887 drew a crowd of around 175,000 people to East Rock Park, making it one of the largest gatherings the city had ever seen. Two of the most recognized Civil War generals, William Tecumseh Sherman and Philip Henry Sheridan, were present that day.
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