Spanish–American War Soldier's Monument, Bronze war memorial in Lownsdale Square, Portland, United States.
The monument features a bronze statue mounted on a marble pedestal, which sits atop a substantial granite foundation. The structure is accompanied by informational plaques that explain the contributions made by the soldiers being honored.
The memorial was built to honor soldiers from the 2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment who fought in two wars at the end of the 1800s. This unit was active in both conflicts and played an important role in the military history of the region.
The two bronze howitzers beside the monument were found buried in sand in Charleston, South Carolina, by Henry E. Dosch, who in 1902 received War Department permission to bring them to Portland. A plaque states they fired in the defense of Fort Sumter in 1861.
The monument stands in Lownsdale Square, one of the Plaza Blocks between Southwest Main and Salmon streets in downtown Portland, a short walk from several MAX light rail and bus stops. The bronze plaque and the two howitzers sit low, so they are easy to see up close; the surrounding lawn and paths are level and open to wheelchairs.
The pedestal alone weighs 64,000 pounds (29,000 kg), cut from a single piece of Barre Granite in Vermont under an $8,000 contract held by E.W. Wright, the Portland agent for the quarry. With the statue on top the monument reaches about 30 feet (9.1 m).
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