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 government, seat of the United States Congress, the United States Congress, legislative branch of the Federal government of the United States, federal g ...

in Garfield Circle, a traffic circle at First Street and Maryland Avenue SW in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

It is a memorial to

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

James A. Garfield James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 1881 until his death in September that year after being shot two months earlier. A preacher, lawyer, and Civi ...

, who was elected in 1880 and assassinated in 1881 after serving only four months of his term. The perpetrator was an attorney and disgruntled office-seeker named

Charles J. Guiteau Charles Julius Guiteau ( ; September 8, 1841June 30, 1882) was an American man who assassinated James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, in 1881. A mentally ill failed lawyer, Guiteau delusionally believed that he had playe ...

. Garfield lived for several weeks after the shooting, but eventually succumbed to his injuries. The monument is part of a three-part sculptural group near the

Capitol Reflecting Pool The Capitol Reflecting Pool is a reflecting pool in Washington, D.C., United States. It lies to the west of the United States Capitol and is the westernmost element of the Capitol grounds (or the easternmost element of the National Mall, accord ...

, including the

Peace Monument The Peace Monument, also known as the Navy Monument, Naval Monument or Navy-Peace Monument, stands on the western edge of the United States Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C. It is in the middle of Peace Circle, where First Street and Pennsy ...

and the

Ulysses S. Grant Memorial The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is a presidential memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring American Civil War general and 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. It sits at the base of Capitol Hill (Union Square, the Mall, 1st Str ...

in Union Square. The monument is also a

contributing property In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic dist ...

to the

National Mall The National Mall is a Landscape architecture, landscaped park near the Downtown, Washington, D.C., downtown area of Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. It contains and borders a number of museums of the Smithsonian Institu ...

and

L'Enfant Plan The L'Enfant Plan for the city of Washington, D.C. is the urban plan developed in 1791 by Major Pierre (Peter) Charles L'Enfant for George Washington, the first president of the United States. It is regarded as a landmark in urban design and h ...

, both of which are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

and the

District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites The District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites is a register of historic places in Washington, D.C. that are designated by the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), a component of the District of Columbia Govern ...

. The bronze statue rests on a granite pedestal that features three sculptures, each one representing a time period in Garfield's life. 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 y ...

and cast by The Henry-Bonnard Co. of New York, with a pedestal designed by

Richard Morris Hunt Richard Morris Hunt (October 31, 1827 – July 31, 1895) was an American architect of the nineteenth century and an eminent figure in the history of architecture of the United States. He helped shape New York City with his designs for the 1902 ...

, is an outstanding example of

Beaux-Arts architecture Beaux-Arts architecture ( , ) was the academic architectural style taught at the in Paris, particularly from the 1830s to the end of the 19th century. It drew upon the principles of French neoclassicism, but also incorporated Renaissance and ...

. It was unveiled on May 12, 1887. The memorial was commissioned in 1884 by the

Society of the Army of the Cumberland The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio. History The origin of the Army of the Cumberland dates back to the creation ...

, 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 A rotunda () is any roofed building with a circular ground plan, and sometimes covered by a dome. It may also refer to a round room within a building (an example being the one below the dome of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.). ...

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 the ...

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

United States Capitol Complex The United States Capitol Complex is a group of twenty buildings, grounds, and facilities in Washington, D.C., that are used by the United States Congress, and federal courts. The buildings and grounds within the complex are managed and supervi ...

on January 2, 1975.

History

Biography

was born on November 19, 1831, in

Moreland Hills, Ohio Moreland Hills is a village in eastern Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,466 at the 2020 census. An eastern suburb of Cleveland, it is part of the Cleveland metropolitan area. History In 1815, settlement began near the ...

. His father died when Garfield was young and he grew up very poor. After an attempt to live on his own, he returned to his mother and attended

Geauga Seminary The Geauga Seminary (also known as Western Reserve Labor Seminary) was a Free Will Baptist school in Chester Township, Geauga County, Ohio. President James Garfield attended the Seminary. History The school was founded in 1842 by the Western Rese ...

. After graduating from the seminary, Garfield worked a variety of jobs and became a teacher at

Hiram College Hiram College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Hiram, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1850 as the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute by Amos Sutton Hayden and other members of the Disciples of Christ Church. The college is nonse ...

, where he also worked as a janitor. As a

born again To be born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelical Christianity, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is d ...

Christian, Garfield preached on occasion, receiving much needed money at certain churches on his circuit. After teaching for a few years, Garfield attended

Williams College Williams College is a Private college, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established as a men's college in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim ...

, graduating in 1856, and learned about the

abolitionist Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world. The first country to fully outlaw slavery was Kingdom of France, France in 1315, but it was later used ...

philosophy while in

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

. He returned to

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

and taught at Hiram College once again. During the years leading up to the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, 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.J ...

, Garfield had become interested in politics and supported the new Republican Party. He was elected to the

Ohio Senate The Ohio Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly. The State Senate, which meets in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, first convened in 1803. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such that half of t ...

in 1860, serving in that role until the following year. During the Civil War, Garfield was commissioned a colonel. His first and only battle where he led Union Army forces was at the

Battle of Middle Creek The Battle of Middle Creek was an engagement fought January 10, 1862, in Eastern Kentucky during the American Civil War. It was the only battle personally commanded by future president James A. Garfield, then a colonel in the Union Army. ...

, which the Union Army won. After the battle, Garfield was promoted to brigadier general. He was later promoted to chief of staff to the

Army of the Cumberland The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio. History The origin of the Army of the Cumberland dates back to the creatio ...

. In 1863, Garfield left the military and ran for

U.S. Congress The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a bicameral legislature, including a lower body, the U.S. House of Representatives, and an upper body, the U.S. Senate. They both ...

. He won the election and served in the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

for 17 years. Garfield successfully ran for president as a Republican in the

1880 United States presidential election United States presidential election, Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 2, 1880. Republican Party (United States), Republican nominee James A. Garfield defeated Winfield Scott Hancock of the Democratic Party (Uni ...

. After serving as president for only three months, Garfield was shot at the

Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station, also known as Pennsylvania Railroad Station, was a railroad station that was owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad and operated by the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad in Washington, D.C., from July 2, 1 ...

The perpetrator,

, was an attorney and unsuccessful politician. Attempts were made to bring him back to good health, but three months after the shooting, he died on September 19, 1881. Almost immediately after news of the president's death was announced, members of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland (SAC), who were attending their annual reunion, established the Garfield Memorial Committee that would oversee the erection of a monument to Garfield.

Memorial plans

The SAC was able to raise almost $28,000, through donations and benefits, like the 1882 Garfield Monument Fair, which took place in the

United States Capitol rotunda The United States Capitol building features a central rotunda below the Capitol dome. Built between 1818 and 1824, the rotunda has been described as the Capitol's "symbolic and physical heart". The rotunda is connected by corridors leading so ...

and

. Another fundraiser that year was by Congress, who sold condemned cannons from the Civil War to allocate $7,500 for the monument. Two years later on July 7, 1884, Congress further allocated $30,000 for the pedestal. During the 1883 reunion, the SAC selected

to be the monument's sculptor. Ward has already sculpted the equestrian statue of George Henry Thomas for the SAC, so the two parties were on friendly terms. He was also known as one of the best sculptors during that time period. Ward chose his friend

to be the architect of the monument's pedestal. The Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company was chosen to be the

founder Founder or Founders may refer to: Places *Founders Park, a stadium in South Carolina, formerly known as Carolina Stadium * Founders Park, a waterside park in Islamorada, Florida Arts, entertainment, and media * Founders (''Star Trek''), the ali ...

for the project. The total price for the monument and its installation was $62,539.

Dedication

On the morning of May 12, 1887, a gun salute was fired from the Marine Barracks in honor of the day's event. Later that morning, members of the SAC met at the Arlington Hotel, followed by a march to the Grand Army of the Republica Hall. At 11:30am, a procession of SAC members joined with the District of Columbia militia and members of the

Grand Army of the Republic The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (United States Navy, U.S. Navy), and the United States Marine Corps, Marines who served in the American Ci ...

to march in a parade to the monument site. There were many onlookers that day, crowding around the circle to get a glimpse of the event. At noon, guests of honor were seated in the temporary grandstand built for the ceremony. Those seated in the grandstand included Secretary of State Thomas F. Bayard, U.S. Attorney General Augustus H. Garland, Chief Justice

Morrison Waite Morrison Remick "Mott" Waite (November 29, 1816 – March 23, 1888) was an American attorney, jurist, and politician from Ohio who served as the seventh chief justice of the United States from 1874 until his death in 1888. During his tenure ...

and other justices of the

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

, philanthropist

William Wilson Corcoran William Wilson Corcoran (December 27, 1798 – February 24, 1888) was an American banker, philanthropist, and art collector. He founded the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Early life and education Corcoran was born on December 27, ...

, Judge Alexander Burton Hagner, Ward and Hunt, and several generals of the Civil War. President

Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, serving from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. He was the first U.S. president to serve nonconsecutive terms and the first Hist ...

and General

Phillip Sheridan Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with General-i ...

, who served as president of the SAC, arrived at 1pm and sat at the front of the grandstand. Colonel Wilson began the ceremony by introducing Reverend S.H. Giesyd, who delivered an opening prayer. The

United States Marine Band The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps. Established by act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the ...

performed ''

The Star-Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written by American lawyer Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort ...

'' followed by the unveiling of the monument. There was then a gun salute on the Capitol grounds. Sheridan then introduced the keynote speaker, Major General J. Warren Keifer, who talked about Garfield's life. After his speech, Keifer formally gave the monument to Sheridan, who then passed ownership to Cleveland. It was at this time Cleveland spoke about Garfield, patriotism, and the grandeur of monuments that were being erected throughout Washington, D.C. After the president spoke, ''

Hail, Columbia "Hail, Columbia" is an American patriotic song and ceremonial entrance march of the vice president of the United States. It was originally considered to be one of the unofficial national anthems of the United States until 1931, when "The Star- ...

'' was played by the Marine Band and a benediction was given by Reverend F.D. Power.

Later history

The monument is a

to the

, which was listed on the

(DCIHS) on November 8, 1964, and the

(NRHP) on October 15, 1966. It is also a contributing property to the

, listed on the DCIHS on January 19, 1971, and the NRHP on April 24, 1997. The monument was incorporated into the

on January 2, 1975. In 1992, the

Architect of the Capitol The Architect of the Capitol is the Federal government of the United States, federal Government agency, agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex. It is an agency of t ...

had the monument cleaned via low-pressure washing to the bronze sculptures. Additional steps to preserve the monument was the application of a

corrosion inhibitor A corrosion inhibitor or anti-corrosive is a chemical compound added to a liquid or gas to decrease the corrosion rate of a metal that comes into contact with the fluid. The effectiveness of a corrosion inhibitor depends on fluid composition and ...

and the sculptures being repatinated. An acrylic lacquer and wax was the final step in protecting the statues. The lead joints were repaired, and the sidewalks around the circle were improved. In addition to the monument, there is a park named after him and a statue of Garfield in the National Statuary Hall Collection.

Location and design

Location

The monument is sited on Reservation 202, Garfield Circle, at the intersection of First Street and Maryland Avenue NW in Union Square, Washington, D.C. The placement of the monument compliments the

Peace Circle Peace Circle is a traffic circle in Washington, D.C., located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and First Street NW. At its center is the Peace Monument, also known as the Naval Memorial. It is a monument to the naval deaths during the ...

and its

. The

is located between the two smaller monuments. The Garfield monument is on the west side of the

, which is under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol.

Design

The total height of the bronze sculpture of Garfield is 9-feet (2.7 m). It rests on a granite pedestal that is tapered and cylindrical, and measures 16-feet (4.9 m) tall. The three bronze sculptures on the monument's pedestal measure 5-feet (1.5 m). Garfield is depicted standing, wearing a long coat over his suit. He has a beard and moustache, and his hair is wavy. Garfield is looking into the distance while holding a stack of papers from his inauguration. Beside him is a small column draped with fabric. There is an open book on the column and Garfield is placing his hand on it. The pedestal is a fine example of Beaux-Arts and

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

art, with three elaborate bronze figures that Ward worked on more than the statue of Garfield. Plaques depicting swords and globes are on the second tier of the pedestal, just above the three figures. They are all

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

males and seated near the bottom of the monument. Each one represents a time period of Garfield's life: teacher, soldier, and statesman. The one representing his early career features a bare-foot student wearing a tunic made from sheep skin while holding paper with his left hand. The second sculpture, representing Garfield's military career, is a middle-aged man, wearing wolf skin, fur boats, and a fur tunic, while reaching for a sword with his right hand. The third sculpture which represents his years as a statesman and politician, is wearing sandals and a long robe. His right hand is holding a tablet that reads "Law Justice Prosperity".

Inscriptions

The following inscriptions are on the monument: (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 File:Capitol 2020 Perspektiven 17.jpg, Inscription on the pedestal File:James A. Garfield Monument 7.jpg, Inscription on the pedestal File:James A. Garfield Monument 9.jpg, Inscription on the pedestal File:James A. Garfield Monument (detail 2) - Washington, DC.jpg, One of three sculptures on the pedestal File:James A. Garfield Monument (detail 1) - Washington, DC.jpg, One of three sculptures on the pedestal File:James A. Garfield Monument (detail 3) - Washington, DC.jpg, One of three sculptures on the pedestal

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Garfield, James A. 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, historical ...

Beaux-Arts architecture in Washington, D.C. Bronze sculptures in Washington, D.C. Historic district contributing properties in Washington, D.C. Monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C. National Mall Outdoor sculptures in Washington, D.C. Presidential memorials in the United States Sculptures by John Quincy Adams Ward Sculptures of men in Washington, D.C. Statues in Washington, D.C.

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

United States Capitol grounds Sculptures of books