Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, Memorial arch in Bushnell Park, Hartford, US.
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch is a brownstone triumphal arch in Bushnell Park, Hartford, Connecticut, flanked by two Norman-style towers connected by a Gothic arch. The structure is hollow inside and decorated with carved friezes along its exterior.
The arch was built in 1886 to honor the Hartford residents who fought in the American Civil War. It is considered the first permanent triumphal arch erected in the United States.
Six large figures carved into the towers show men from different trades, including a farmer, a blacksmith, a carpenter, and an African American breaking free from chains. That last figure is a direct reference to the enslaved people who gained freedom and served in the Union army.
The arch and the surrounding park are freely accessible and easy to reach on foot from downtown Hartford. Guided tours allow entry into the hollow interior, which cannot be accessed otherwise.
The ashes of architect George Keller, who designed the arch, and his wife are interred within its walls. It is very rare for an architect to be buried inside a public monument of his own design.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
