Custer Monument, Bronze military memorial at United States Military Academy Cemetery, New York, United States.
Custer Monument is a bronze military sculpture located at the West Point Cemetery in New York. The structure features a stone obelisk mounted on a pedestal that marks the burial site and sits within the academy grounds.
Congress authorized the memorial in 1879, using condemned bronze cannons repurposed as building material for the project. This creation reflected the intention to commemorate the military officer at the academy's grounds.
The monument reflects the contested legacy surrounding Custer, as the original portrayal sparked debate about how to represent him within military circles. Visitors notice how the site balances honoring military service with acknowledging the historical complexities attached to this figure.
The monument is located on West Point Academy grounds near Highland Falls and requires proper visitor authorization to access the site. Plan extra time to navigate the academy property and check visiting guidelines before arriving.
The original bronze statue was sent to architect Stanford White in New York City for safekeeping after completion but mysteriously disappeared. Its location has never been found and remains one of the site's most puzzling historical mysteries.
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