Civil War Soldiers & Sailors Monument - Philadelphia, PA
N 39° 57.567 W 075° 10.375
18S E 485231 N 4423270
This complex and stunning twin memorial/sculptures act as a gateway along the Ben Franklin Parkway. It is the first think one notices on their way to the art museum, as it makes its bold statement about the Civil War.
Waymark Code: WM6VKV
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 07/24/2009
Views: 10
Although not officially listed as a tourist attraction of the gophilly web page, this memorial draws huge crowds, armed with cameras and curiosity. It was originally Installed 1921 and relocated to the parkway in 1954-55. The twin sculptures are made of Tennessee marble with a granite base. The sculpture are about 480 x 156.25 x 118.75 inches and each base is about 11 x 166 x 128.5 inches.
In 1918, the City of Philadelphia appropriated $88,000 for a Civil War memorial. When the two pylons were first installed, they were envisioned as a gateway to what was to be the "Parkway Gardens." However, when the Vine Street Expressway was constructed in 1954-1955, the pylons had to be moved about 150 feet down along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway toward the Philadelphia Museum of Art to make room for an underpass.
Basically, Two rectangular pylons were installed on either side of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway provide a gateway to the Philadelphia Art Museum (as already stated). Each pylon is adorned near its base with a group of nine male figures dressed in military uniforms and intertwined around a cannon. The grouping on the south pylon measures 132 inches high and is dedicated to sailors who served during the Civil War. The figures include one wounded sailor clutched by another and a sailor looking outward and holding binoculars at his waist. The grouping on the north pylon measures 156 inches high and is dedicated to soldiers who served during the Civil War. The figures include two on horseback, one carrying a rifle, one aiming a rifle, a wounded one being held by another, and one blowing a bugle. On each pylon, a low relief of a female figure with her hands clasped across her chest rises from above the heads of the figures. At the top of each pylon is an eagle with wings spread and a shield. They are very complicated and ornate.
There are also lots of inscriptions on the south and north tower. On the south or sailor tower I saw "PICCIRILLI BROS NY" written on the side. In front of the sailors, "IN GIVING/FREEDOM TO THE SLAVE/WE ASSURE/FREEDOM TO THE FREE". At the base of the tower, "ALL WHO HAVE LABORED TODAY/IN BEHALF OF THE UNION/HAVE WROUGHT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS/OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD/NOT ONLY FOR THE PRESENT/BUT FOR ALL FUTURE AGES". In back of the sailor tower it reads "PORT ROYAL/FORT HATTERAS/PORT HENRY HAMPTON ROADS/NEW ORLEANS/MEMPHIS PORT HUDSON/CHARLESTON/MOBILE BAY CRURYS BLUFF/ CHERBOURG/FORT FISHER".
The north or soldier tower also has lots of inscriptions. In front of the pylon, it reads "ONE COUNTRY/ONE CONSTITUTION/ONE DESTINY". At the base, it reads "EACH FOR HIMSELF GATHERED UP/THE CHERISHED PURPOSES OF LIFE/ITS AIMS AND AMBITIONS/ITS DEAREST AFFECTIONS/AN FLUNG ALL WITH LIFE ITSELF/INTO THE SCALE OF BATTLE ". On the back of the soldier pylon, it reads "DONELSON/THE PENINSULA/ANTIETAM MURFREESBORO/CHANCELLORSVILLE/GETTYSBURG VICKSBURG/CHICKAMAUGA/CHATTANOOGA PETERSBURG/ATLANTA/APPOMATTOX which are battle names and battlefield names.
MacNeil, Hermon A., 1866-1947, sculptor.
Piccirilli Brothers Marble Carving Studios, carver.
Lord & Hewlett, architectural firm.
The posted coordinates are for the south tower.