The Soldiers' Monument, Civil War memorial sculpture in Freeport, Illinois.
The Soldiers' Monument is a marble structure that rises about 83 feet high with a statue positioned at each of its four corners. Each figure represents a different military branch that served during the war.
The monument was designed in 1871 by General Smith D. Atkins to honor soldiers from Stephenson County who died in the Civil War. It has served as a central place of remembrance in Freeport ever since.
The names of county veterans who served during the Civil War are inscribed on metal plaques at the base. These records connect the monument to the real people from the region who fought in the conflict.
The monument sits at the intersection of Galena Avenue and Stephenson Street in downtown Freeport. You can view the structure from different angles and walk around it to see all four corner statues.
A lightning strike in 1960 destroyed the original Victory statue that topped the monument. The community eventually raised funds and replaced it in 2015 after many years without this crowning element.
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