Benjamin C. Grenup Monument, Memorial sculpture in Glenwood Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
The Benjamin C. Grenup Monument is a marble structure in Glenwood Cemetery shaped like an obelisk standing on a square base. Three relief panels display scenes of firefighting equipment and tools used during that era.
The monument was commissioned in 1858 by Columbia Fire Company after a firefighter died during an emergency response. Sculptor Charles Rousseau created the work to honor this firefighter's sacrifice and service.
The carvings show the tools and methods of firefighting during the 1800s through detailed scenes on its base. Visitors can learn about how firefighters worked and what equipment was important to their dangerous job.
The monument is located near the main buildings of the cemetery within a fenced triangular area. Visitors can walk through the grounds to reach it and find three decorative fire hydrants at its base.
New firefighters visit this memorial as part of a tradition to connect with their department's past. The practice has been passed down through District Engine Company 3 for generations.
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