Hoosier Dusty Files - May 15, 1902 - Soldiers and Sailors Monument Dedicated

A Year of Indiana History - 2016

May 15, 1902 - Soldiers and Sailors Monument Dedicated
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is the centerpiece of Monument in downtown Indianapolis. Retail stores, office buildings, radio station and televisions studios surround the Monument. The monument was built in 1902 from a design commissioned to Bruno Schmidz of Berlin, Prussia. The monument stands 284 feet, six inches tall and is made of Oolitic limestone from Owen County in southern Indiana.
Design and Construction
Numerous sculptures surround the monument. German designer Bruno Schmitz designed the monument, expanding on a design commenced by Alexander Ralston's 1821 plan. Governor Oliver Morton proposed the idea for the Monument. The Indiana General Assembly created a commission to build it in 1888. The Commission staged an international competition to pick artists to construct the monument.  Renowned artists and architects Bruno Schmitz, George Brewster, Nicholas Geiger and Rudolf Schwarz designed various aspects of the cascading fountains, sculptures of sailors and soldiers, and other features of the magnificent monument. The memorial became a symbol of not only Indianapolis, but the State of Indiana as well. The monument houses the Eli Lily Civil War Museum in the lower level. The museum features numerous exhibits relating Indiana's role in the Civil War and the stories of some of these soldiers.
Visiting the Monument
After visiting the museum, you will find excellent views of downtown Indianapolis from observation decks just above street level. From here you can see the impressive tall buildings surrounding the circle and obtain great scenes down north and south Meridian Street, East Market Street towards City Market and West Market as it looks directly at the Indiana State Capitol Building. You may then either climb the 330 stairs, or take the elevator for a stunning vista of the city from the top of the monument.
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is located at the intersection of Meridian and Market Streets in downtown Indianapolis.
To find more information about the monument and current operation hours, visit:
Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Indiana possesses a rich history that is fun to read and learn. This Hoosier Dusty Files is in an easy to read “this day in history format” and includes articles from the author's A Year in Indiana History series. Visitors may read the articles as they appear or purchase the book:
A Year of Indiana History - 2016
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© Paul Wonning