Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument

The Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is a 56-foot granite structure in Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit featuring bronze statues, medallions, and a central figure. The composition combines carved stone with cast bronze elements arranged to honor those who served.

Michigan Governor Austin Blair established the Monument Association in 1865 to honor state soldiers and sailors who died in the Civil War. The structure was completed in the following years as the state created a lasting memorial to those who served.

The monument displays four allegorical bronze figures representing Victory, Union, Emancipation, and History, with medallions honoring military leaders below. These images show how the community chose to remember the war and the values it fought for.

The memorial sits at a major intersection in the heart of downtown Detroit near public transit stops and street parking. The location in an open park means you can view and photograph the monument freely at any time without restrictions.

Four military figures in bronze each weigh roughly 900 pounds and represent different service branches, while the central Michigan figure wears a distinctive winged helmet. The contrast between these supporting figures and the crowned form above them tells a visual story about hierarchy and honor in war remembrance.