The James A. Garfield Monument stands on the grounds of the

United States Capitol The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, which is formally known as the United States Congress. It is located on Capitol Hill ...

in the circle at First Street, S.W., and Maryland Avenue,

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

It is a memorial to

United States President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...

James A. Garfield James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881 until his death six months latertwo months after he was shot by an assassin. A lawyer and Civil War gene ...

, elected in 1880 and assassinated in 1881 after serving only four months of his term, by a disgruntled office-seeker named Charles J. Guiteau. The monument, sculpted by

John Quincy Adams Ward John Quincy Adams Ward (June 29, 1830 – May 1, 1910) was an American sculptor, whose most familiar work is his larger than life-size standing statue of George Washington on the steps of Federal Hall National Memorial in New York City. Early ye ...

(1830–1910) and cast by The Henry-Bonnard Co. of New York, with a pedestal designed by Richard Morris Hunt, is an outstanding example of American Beaux-Arts monument. It was unveiled on May 12, 1887. Today it stands as part of a three-part sculptural group near the Capitol Reflecting Pool including the

Peace Monument The Peace Monument, also known as the Naval Monument or Civil War Sailors Monument, stands on the grounds of the United States Capitol in Peace Circle at First Street, N.W., and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. The 44 foot (13.4 m) high ...

and the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial. The memorial was commissioned in 1884 by the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, of which Garfield had been a member. The Society raised almost $28,000 to pay the sculptor. Some of the funds were raised by The Garfield Monument Fair, which was held in the Capitol's Rotunda and

National Statuary Hall The National Statuary Hall is a chamber in the United States Capitol devoted to sculptures of prominent Americans. The hall, also known as the Old Hall of the House, is a large, two-story, semicircular room with a second story gallery along th ...

in 1882. Also in that year, Congress appropriated to the Society $7,500 in funds from the sale of condemned cannons; in 1884 it appropriated $30,000 for the pedestal. The monument was incorporated into the Capitol Grounds on January 2, 1975. James A

Inscriptions

The inscription reads: On Garfield statue: J.Q.A. Ward/Sculp. 1887 The Henry-Bonnard Bronze Co. New York On speech held in Garfield's proper left hand: Law, Justice, Prosperity On each base figure: J.Q.A. Ward Sculp Base, top section, front: James. A. GArfield 1831–1881 Base, top section, left side: Major-General U-S-V, Member oF Congress, Senator, and President of The United States of America Base, top section, right side: Erected by his Comrades of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland May 18, 1887 The monument includes three allegorical figures spread around the base representing three significant periods in Garfield's life. The first is the ''Student'', reminding us of his time as an educator, the next is the ''Warrior'', commemorating his service 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 ...

and the third is the ''Statesman'', pointing to his career as a public servant.Sharp, Lewis I., John Quincy Adams Ward: Dean of American Sculpture, with Catalogue Raisonné, University of Delaware Press, Newark, 1985

References

External links

"President James A. Garfield Monument"
''Wikimapia'' *
"Statue of James A. Garfield on the Garfield Monument"
''Architect of the Capitol'' {{authority control 1887 establishments in Washington, D.C. 1887 sculptures

Monument A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, hist ...

Beaux-Arts architecture in Washington, D.C. Bronze sculptures in Washington, D.C. Garfield, James Abram Monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C. National Mall Outdoor sculptures in Washington, D.C. Sculptures by John Quincy Adams Ward Sculptures of men in Washington, D.C. Statues in Washington, D.C. Garfield, James United States Capitol grounds

Inscriptions

See also

References

External links