The Pennsylvania State Memorial is a monument in

Gettysburg National Military Park The Gettysburg National Military Park protects and interprets the landscape of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the park is managed by the National Park Service. The GNMP propert ...

that commemorates the 34,530 Pennsylvania soldiers who fought in the July 1 to 3, 1863

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the Po ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. The memorial stands along

Cemetery Ridge Cemetery Ridge is a geographic feature in Gettysburg National Military Park, south of the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that figured prominently in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 to July 3, 1863. It formed a primary defensive position for the ...

, the Union battle line on July 2, 1863. Completed in 1914, it is the largest of the state monuments on the

Gettysburg Battlefield The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the site of the first shot ...

History

In the 1880s, Senator

Andrew G. Curtin Andrew Gregg Curtin (April 22, 1815/1817October 7, 1894) was a U.S. lawyer and politician. He served as the Governor of Pennsylvania during the Civil War, helped defend his state during the Gettysburg Campaign, and led organization of the cr ...

, who had served as Pennsylvania's governor during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

, advocated for a "Pennsylvania Memorial Hall" to be built atop

Little Round Top Little Round Top is the smaller of two rocky hills south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania—the companion to the adjacent, taller hill named Big Round Top. It was the site of an unsuccessful assault by Confederate troops against the Union left fla ...

. The -square hall would display "a treasury of trophies and mementos of all the Pennsylvania regiments that fought at Gettysburg." The proposed building was included in an 1889 state appropriations bill, that was vetoed by Governor

James A. Beaver James Addams Beaver (October 21, 1837 – January 31, 1914) was an American attorney, recruiter and field commander of Pennsylvania Infantry who was wounded four times during the American Civil War, and politician who served as the 20th governor ...

. Eighteen years later, the Pennsylvania Legislature appropriated $150,000 for construction of a state memorial, and the current site was announced in February 1909. The design competition for the commission was won by the entry of New York architect W. Liance Cottrell and Philadelphia sculptor Samuel Murray. The building was to be completed by July 1, 1910. Humphreys Avenue, along the east side of the memorial, was not surveyed until 1911, so materials were delivered by railroad, via the

Round Top Branch The Round Top Branch was an extension of the Gettysburg and Harrisburg Railroad from the Gettysburg borough across the Gettysburg Battlefield to Round Top, Pennsylvania. The branch ran southward from the terminus of the railroad's main line (it ...

to nearby Hancock Station. The memorial was unfinished when it was dedicated on September 27, 1910, and the project was out of money. An additional state appropriation of $40,000 was approved in 1911. The new completion date was set for July 1, 1913 – the 50th anniversary of the battle. The portrait statues were installed in April 1913, and the memorial was rededicated on July 4, 1913. A bronze tablet listing the names of 945 additional Pennsylvania veterans completed the memorial in 1914.

Description

The memorial features a square, granite pedestal (terrace) – 100 feet on each side – with bronze tablets on its exterior face that list the names of the 34,530 Pennsylvania soldiers who fought in the battle. (p. 22b) Set upon the pedestal is the granite pavilion, which consists of 4 corner towers linked by arches that form an ''arcus quadrifrons'', or 4-sided

triumphal arch A triumphal arch is a free-standing monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crow ...

. Engaged

Ionic column The Ionic order is one of the three canonic orders of classical architecture, the other two being the Doric and the Corinthian. There are two lesser orders: the Tuscan (a plainer Doric), and the rich variant of Corinthian called the composite or ...

s at the corners and flanking the arches form niches for the 8 portrait statues. The pavilion is topped by a granite dome. Between the

parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). Whe ...

and the dome's base is an observation deck, accessed by a spiral staircase in the northwest corner tower. Under the pavilion is an

undercroft An undercroft is traditionally a cellar or storage room, often brick-lined and vaulted, and used for storage in buildings since medieval times. In modern usage, an undercroft is generally a ground (street-level) area which is relatively open ...

or vaulted cellar. The memorial's entrance is on the west (Hancock Avenue) side, where a wide flight of steps rises to the pedestal's terrace. Half-flights rise beneath each arch into the pavilion's central hall. A bronze

Nike Nike often refers to: * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine given ...

figure, the ''Goddess of Victory and Peace'', crowns the podium atop the dome. She holds a sword in one hand and a palm branch, a symbol of victory through peace, in the other. In a gesture to the Biblical passage "they shall beat their swords into plowshares," the bronze used to cast the Nike came from melted-down cannons. Above the arches are

spandrel A spandrel is a roughly triangular space, usually found in pairs, between the top of an arch and a rectangular frame; between the tops of two adjacent arches or one of the four spaces between a circle within a square. They are frequently fill ...

bas-reliefs Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that the ...

of winged goddesses, and above the cornice is a parapet with a bas-relief panel on each side that depicts the Artillery, Cavalry, Infantry and Signal Corps. Larger-than-life bronze statues of President Abraham Lincoln and other prominent Civil War figures flank the arches. Above them are bas-relief shields and laurel wreaths. The names of important figures in the battle are inscribed across the pavilion's frieze and on its interior.

Sculpture

Goddess of Victory and Peace PA Monument Gettysburg 1910

* ''Goddess of Victory and Peace'' (1909–10) by Samuel Murray, atop the monument's dome. Height: 21 ft (6.4 m). Weight: 7,500 lb (3,402 kg). * Portrait statues: ** ''President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

'' (1911–1913) by

J. Otto Schweizer Jakob Otto Schweizer (March 27, 1863, Zurich - 1955) was a Swiss-American sculptor noted for his work on war memorials. Biography Born in Zurich, Switzerland, Schweizer enrolled in that city's Industrial Art School in 1879. In 1882, he enter ...

, west side ** ''Governor

Andrew Curtin Andrew Gregg Curtin (April 22, 1815/1817October 7, 1894) was a U.S. lawyer and politician. He served as the Governor of Pennsylvania during the Civil War, helped defend his state during the Gettysburg Campaign, and led organization of the crea ...

'' (1911–1913) by William Clark Noble, west side ** ''General

George Meade George Gordon Meade (December 31, 1815 – November 6, 1872) was a United States Army officer and civil engineer best known for decisively defeating Confederate States Army, Confederate Full General (CSA), General Robert E. Lee at the Battle ...

'' (1911–1913) by

Lee Lawrie Lee Oscar Lawrie (October 16, 1877 – January 23, 1963) was an American architectural sculptor and a key figure in the American art scene preceding World War II. Over his long career of more than 300 commissions Lawrie's style evolved through ...

, north side ** ''General John F. Reynolds'' (1911–1913) by Lee Lawrie, north side ** ''General

Winfield Scott Hancock Winfield Scott Hancock (February 14, 1824 – February 9, 1886) was a United States Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service ...

'' (1911–1913) by

Cyrus Edwin Dallin Cyrus Edwin Dallin (November 22, 1861 – November 14, 1944) was an American sculptor best known for his depictions of Native Americans. He created more than 260 works, including the ''Equestrian Statue of Paul Revere'' in Boston, Massac ...

, south side ** ''General

David McMurtrie Gregg David McMurtrie Gregg (April 10, 1833 – August 7, 1916) was an American farmer, diplomat, and a Union cavalry general in the American Civil War. Early life and career Gregg was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He was the first cousin of futu ...

'' (1911–1913) by J. Otto Schweizer, east side ** ''General

Alfred Pleasonton Alfred Pleasonton (June 7, 1824 – February 17, 1897) was a United States Army officer and major general of volunteers in the Union cavalry during the American Civil War. He commanded the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac during the Gett ...

'' (1911–1913) by J. Otto Schweizer, south side ** ''General

David B. Birney David Bell Birney (May 29, 1825 – October 18, 1864) was a businessman, lawyer, and a Union general in the American Civil War. Early life Birney was born in Huntsville, Alabama, the son of an abolitionist from Kentucky, James G. Birney. The Bi ...

'' (1911–1913) by Lee Lawrie, south side File:Lincoln by J. Otto Schweizer 1913 p.66.jpg, ''Abraham Lincoln'' by J. Otto Schweizer File:Gov. Curtin by W. Clark Noble 1913 p.67.jpg, ''Gov. Andrew Curtin'' by William Clark Noble File:Gen. Meade by Lee Lawrie 1913 p.70.jpg, ''Gen. George Meade'' by Lee Lawrie File:Gen. Reynolds by Lee Lawrie 1913 p.71.jpg, ''Gen. John F. Reynolds'' by Lee Lawrie File:Gen. Hancock by Cyrus Dallin 1913 p.72.jpg, ''General Winfield Scott Hancock'' by

File:Gen. Gregg by J. Otto Schweizer 1913 p.75.jpg, ''Gen. David McMurtrie Gregg'' by J. Otto Schweizer File:Gen. Pleasonton by J. Otto Schweizer 1913 p.73.jpg, ''Gen. Alfred Pleasonton'' by J. Otto Schweizer File:Gen. Birney by Lee Lawrie 1913 p.74.jpg, ''Gen. David B. Birney'' by Lee Lawrie

Architectural sculpture

* 4 white marble

bas-relief panels: ** ''Artillery'' (1909–10) by Samuel Murray, north parapet. ** ''Cavalry'' (1909–10) by Samuel Murray, south parapet. ** ''Infantry'' (1909–10) by Samuel Murray, west parapet. '' Pennsylvania Bucktails of Stone's Brigade at the McPherson Farm''. ** ''Signal Corps'' (1909–10) by Samuel Murray, east parapet. * ''Attendants to Victory'', 8 white marble bas-relief goddess figures (1909–10) by Samuel Murray, a pair in the

s above each arch. * 8 white marble Shield & Laurel Wreath bas-reliefs (1909–10) by Samuel Murray, one in the niche above each portrait statue. File:North bas-relief PA Monument Gettysburg 1910.jpg, ''Artillery'' File:South bas-relief Pennsylvania State Monument Gettysburg.jpg, ''Cavalry'' File:West bas-relief Pennsylvania State Monument Gettysburg.jpg, ''Infantry'' File:East bas-relief Pennsylvania State Monument Gettysburg.jpg, ''Signal Corps'' File:The Pennsylvania Monument.JPG, ''Attendants to Victory'' (reclining goddesses above arch), north side

Regimental memorials

The perimeter wall features 75 bronze plaques memorializing Pennsylvania units during the war. File:Penn-Memorial-00-GettyAddr-Plaque.jpg, Gettysburg Address File:Penn-Memorial-01-11th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 11th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-02-23rd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 23rd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-03-26th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 26th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-04-26th-Emer-Plaque1.jpg, 26th Emergency Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-05-26th-Emer-Plaque2.jpg, 26th Emergency Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-06-27th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 27th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-07-28th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 28th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-08-29th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 29th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-09-30th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 30th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-10-31st-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 31st Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-11-34th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 34th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-12-35th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 35th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-13-38th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 38th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-14-39th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 39th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-15-40th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 40th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-16-41st-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 41st Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-17-42nd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 42nd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-18-46th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 46th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-19-49th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 49th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-20-53rd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 53rd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-21-56th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 56th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-22-57th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 57th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-23-61st-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 61st Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-24-62nd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 62nd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-25-63rd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 63rd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-26-68th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 68th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-27-69th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 69th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-28-71st-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 71st Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-29-72nd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 72nd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-30-73rd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 73rd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-31-74th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 74th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-32-75th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 75th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-33-81st-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 81st Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-34-82nd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 82nd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-35-83rd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 83rd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-36-84th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 84th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-37-88th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 88th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-38-90th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 90th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-39-91st-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 91st Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-40-93rd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 93rd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-41-95th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 95th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-42-96th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 96th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-43-98th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 98th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-44-99th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 99th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-45-102nd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 102nd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-46-105th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 105th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-47-106th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 106th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-48-107th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 107th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-49-109th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 109th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-50-110th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 110th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-51-111th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 111th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-52-114th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 114th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-53-115th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 115th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-54-116th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 116th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-55-118th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 118th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-56-119th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 119th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-57-121st-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 121st Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-58-139th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 139th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-59-140th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 140th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-60-141st-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 141st Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-61-142nd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 142nd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-62-143rd-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 143rd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-63-145th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 145th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-64-147th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 147th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-65-148th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 148th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-66-149th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 149th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-67-150th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 150th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-68-151st-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 151st Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-69-153rd-Inf-Plaque1.jpg, 153rd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-70-153rd-Inf-Plaque2.jpg, 153rd Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-71-155th-Inf-Plaque.jpg, 155th Infantry Regiment File:Penn-Memorial-72-1st-Arty-Plaque.jpg, 1st and 3rd Pennsylvania Artillery File:Penn-Memorial-73-LtArty-Plaque.jpg, Pennsylvania Light Artillery Batteries File:Penn-Memorial-74-Gen-Officers-Plaque.jpg, Pennsylvania General Officers

Maintenance

In 1921, the dome was lined with steel and sealed by William D. Gilbert and James Weiker

and in 1929, the monument's copper was relined and defective woodwork was replaced. The nearby comfort station was completed in 1933 as the first Gettysburg National Military Park, "Gettysburg Parkitecture" structure using Gettysburg granite as in native colonial structures. A 1941

memorial bench A memorial bench, memorial seat or death bench is a piece of outdoor furniture which commemorates a dead person. Such benches are typically made of wood, but can also be made of metal, stone, or synthetic materials such as plastics. Typically mem ...

br>
of marble in front of the monument was broken by "unknown culprits" in 195

and a marble bench was smashed in 199

Images

File:Pennsylvania at Gettysburg vol.3 opp. p.23.jpg, Gettysburg veterans reading the bronze tablets, 50th anniversary of the battle, July 1913. File:Pennsylvania at Gettysburg vol.3 opp. p.234.jpg, Gettysburg veterans seated on the terrace wall, 50th anniversary of the battle, July 1913. File:Gettysburg Battlefield (3440829561).jpg, Pavilion's interior. File:Gettysburg Battlefield (3441644030).jpg, View from observation deck.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pennsylvania State Memorial Gettysburg Battlefield monuments and memorials Outdoor sculptures in Pennsylvania Pavilions in the United States Triumphal arches in the United States 1911 sculptures Buildings and structures completed in 1911 Beaux-Arts architecture in Pennsylvania 1911 establishments in Pennsylvania

History

Description

Sculpture

Architectural sculpture

Regimental memorials

Maintenance

Images

See also

References