Soldiers and Sailors Monument

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a Civil War memorial on Penn Square featuring a 43-foot granite pillar topped with a Liberty figure holding a drawn sword facing north. Four bronze statues at the base represent different military branches, with bronze plaques listing significant battle names.

The monument was dedicated in 1874 to honor Lancaster County soldiers who died in the Civil War and subsequent conflicts. Built roughly a decade after the war ended, it represents the community's effort to preserve memory of those lost.

Four statues at the base show different military branches, each representing a distinct service to the nation. They reflect how the community honored soldiers from all armed services.

The monument sits at the corner of King and Queen Streets downtown, surrounded by a brick pedestrian plaza that makes it easy to walk around and view from all angles. The open space around it allows visitors to see it clearly from nearby streets and sidewalks.

The central granite pillar displays eight major Civil War battle names, including Gettysburg, Antietam, and Petersburg, carved into the stone surface. This curated list marks some of the war's most pivotal military engagements that affected the county's soldiers.