107th Infantry Memorial

The 107th Infantry Memorial in Central Park displays seven bronze soldiers in combat positions standing on a wide granite base and appearing to advance forward. Located at Fifth Avenue and 67th Street, it bears inscriptions honoring both the Seventh Regiment of New York and the 107th United States Infantry Regiment.

The memorial was erected in 1927 and commemorates members of the 107th Infantry Regiment who broke through the German Hindenburg defense line in 1918 during World War I. The action at the Saint-Quentin Canal front marked a decisive moment for the regiment.

The memorial bears the name of the regiment honored here and displays bronze soldiers in combat positions that visitors see daily as they pass by. The figures appear dynamic and engaged, as if moving forward, and invite people to pause and reflect.

The memorial stands right at the edge of the park on a busy corner where it is easily accessible on foot and remains open year-round. Visitors should take time to read the inscriptions and examine the details of the bronze figures.

Sculptor Karl Illava, who served as a sergeant in the regiment, used his own hands as models for the bronze figures. This personal connection between artist and subject links each figure directly to someone who experienced the war firsthand.