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• Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch
• ("grand army plaza" or "g. a. r. plaza" or "prospect park" "plaza" or "prospect" "park plaza" or "soldiers and sailors" "prospect park" or "soldiers and sailors" "brooklyn" or "brooklyn memorial") and "arch" and ("Brooklyn" OR "New York") NOT ("other" "no title" OR "Classified Ad" OR "Display Ad" OR "Spare Times" OR "The Listings: Art" OR "events today")

Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
The arch as seen from the south end of Grand Army Plaza
Type	American Civil War memorial
Location	Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Coordinates	40°40′22″N 73°58′11″W / 40.6729°N 73.9698°W / 40.6729; -73.9698
Elevation	135 feet (41 m)
Height	80 feet (24 m)
Dedicated	October 21, 1892 (1892-10-21)
Built	1889 (1889)–1892 (1892)
Built for	Union Army
Restored	1976; 2023–2024
Architect	John H. Duncan
Sculptor	Frederick MacMonnies (sculptures), Philip Martiny (spandrels)
Owner	City of New York
Website	www.nycgovparks.org/parks/grand-army-plaza/monuments/1463
New York City Landmark
Designated	October 16, 1973 (1973-10-16)
Reference no.	0821 [1]
Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch location in Brooklyn

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch is a triumphal arch at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.. Designed by John Hemenway Duncan and built from 1889 to 1892, the arch is dedicated to American Civil War veterans. The arch is made of granite and measures 80 feet (24 m) tall, with an archway measuring 50 feet (15 m) tall and 35 feet (11 m) wide. The arch also includes spandrels designed by Philip Martiny, equestrian bas-reliefs designed by Thomas Eakins and William Rudolf O'Donovan, and three sculptural groups designed by Frederick MacMonnies. In addition to the decorations outside the monument, there are stairways to the observation deck.

After the American Civil War, the then-independent city of Brooklyn planned a grand memorial to Union Army soldiers, though no major monument was built for two decades. The arch was proposed in 1888, and Duncan was selected as the arch's designer following an architectural design competition. The cornerstone of the arch was laid on October 30, 1889, and the arch was dedicated on October 21, 1892. Additional sculptures and bas-reliefs were installed over the following decade. The arch was designated as a New York City landmark in 1973, and the crowning sculpture was restored after part of it fell off in 1976. The arch was restored again from 2023 to 2024.

Description

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch is at the southern end of Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, New York City, just north of Prospect Park. It was designed by John H. Duncan and completed in 1892. ^{[2] [3]} Including abutments on either side of the archway, the structure measures 80 feet (24 m) tall, with a footprint of 80 by 50 feet (24 by 15 m). The interior of the archway is 50 feet tall and 35 feet (11 m) wide. ^{[2] [3]} Early plans called for the total height of the structure to be 71 feet (22 m) tall, 80 feet wide, and 45 feet (14 m) long. In addition, the archway would have measured 48.5 feet (14.8 m) tall by 37 feet (11 m) wide, ^{[4] [5]} and the abutments were to be 26 feet (7.9 m) wide. ^[6] When the arch was completed, the top of the arch was around 225 feet (69 m) above sea level. Visitors originally could see Long Island to the east, The Palisades to the north, the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic Highlands to the south, and the Orange Mountains to the west. ^[7]

Design

At the base of the arch's abutments is a 3-foot-high (0.91 m) course of Quincy granite, above which is lighter-colored granite. ^[4] There are four pedestals, two each facing north and south, which were intended to support groups of statues. ^{[4] [8]} The exteriors of the arch's base contain the seals of various military companies and regiments based in Brooklyn. ^[6] The archway's keystone depicts the Great Seal of the United States. ^[4]

The underside of the archway has a coffered ceiling, ^{[4] [6]} and there are rosettes at the center of each coffer. ^[6] The interior walls of the archway have equestrian bas-reliefs of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. ^{[6] [9]} They were sculpted by Thomas Eakins and William Rudolf O'Donovan and were added in 1895. ^{[9] [10]} O'Donovan was responsible for sculpting the riders, while Eakins was responsible for the horses. ^{[10] [11]}

Philip Martiny designed the spandrels on the structure's north and south facades, at the upper corners of the archway. ^[12] The spandrels on the structure's north facade depict the state of New York and the then-independent city of Brooklyn, ^{[4] [5]} while the spandrels to the south depict female representations of victory. ^[12] Above the arch was an inscription reading, "To the Defenders of the Union, 1861–1865". ^{[5] [13]} The monument's attic includes panels with disks surrounded by wreaths. ^[7] The names of battles were supposed to have been inscribed into the panels. ^{[7] [14]} The structure's parapet was to have globes with eagles resting above them, ^{[4] [7]} but the arch was instead built with a plain parapet. ^[7]

The arch has two circular stairways, ^[6] one inside each abutment. ^{[4] [13]} One staircase was originally used by visitors traveling to the roof, while the other was used by visitors descending to ground level. ^{[4] [7]} There were 103 ^[15] or 116 steps from ground level to the roof. ^[16] Each of the stairs was made of iron, although the treads were made of stone and had military-inspired decorations such as battle axes. ^[11] In addition, a room was provided within the monument, above the archway, for a war museum. ^{[6] [13]} The room was originally decorated with marble wainscoting and mosaic panels, and there were ceiling vaults with ornamentation honoring Civil War soldiers. Three glass domes illuminated the room. ^[6]

Sculptures

The sculptor Frederick MacMonnies was hired to design sculptures for the plaza's arch. ^{[8] [17]} On the top of the arch is a quadriga or four-horse chariot, ^{[18] [2]} atop which is a figure of Columbia, the female personification of the United States. ^[19] The figure holds a sword in her left (non-dominant) hand, signifying peace, in addition to a flag topped by a wreath, signifying victory. ^{[19] [20]} The chariot includes the Great Seal of the United States. ^[2] The quadriga is 35 feet (11 m) tall and weighs 25 short tons (23 metric tons); ^[20] it was cast in seven pieces. ^[21]

At ground level, MacMonnies also designed two sculptural groups on the arch's southern facade. These represent the United States Army and United States Navy, ^{[18] [20]} which respectively are placed to the left and right of the archway. ^[21] The Army grouping includes a young officer, flanked by injured soldiers and a winged Valkyrie carrying a dead soldier. ^[22] The Navy grouping depicts a group of soldiers standing on a ship with a snapped mast, above which is a depiction of the goddess Bellona. ^[23] The Navy statues include a depiction of a black soldier kneeling in front of white soldiers who are standing up. ^[24] The soldiers in the sculptures were allegedly modeled on the faces of MacMonnies and his friends. ^{[11] [25]}

Development

Planning

After the American Civil War, the then-independent city of Brooklyn planned a grand memorial to Union Army soldiers. Although a statue of Lincoln on Grand Army Plaza and a memorial shaft on Battle Hill were erected in the late 1860s, no major monuments were built in Brooklyn for two decades. ^[7] The New York State Legislature passed legislation on May 16, 1887, authorizing the development of a major Civil War monument in Brooklyn. ^{[26] [6]} The state legislature initially authorized Brooklyn's mayor and common council to oversee the monument's construction. The next year, the legislature appointed a three-person commission consisting of Brooklyn's mayor, Brooklyn's aldermanic president, and the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Committee's chairman to develop the monument. ^[6]

Initially, the state legislature allocated $100,000 for the monument, ^{[27] [28]} of which half was made available during 1888 and half in 1889. ^[29] The monument had been planned as a shaft in City Hall Park (now Columbus Park). ^{[7] [30]} Contracts were about to be awarded for the shaft when the plans were changed. ^[7] By early 1888, a memorial arch was being proposed at Prospect Park Plaza (later Grand Army Plaza) instead. ^[30] After mayor Alfred C. Chapin vetoed an initial design by Henry Baerer, ^[31] an architectural design competition for the monument was hosted for the arch. ^[32] By October 1888, thirty-six architectural firms had submitted designs. ^[32] The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Commission hired William R. Ware and Charles B. Atwood to review the designs. ^[33] The state government added another $150,000 for the arch's construction in 1889. ^{[28] [33]}

John Hemenway Duncan, the designer of Grant's Tomb in Manhattan, was selected as the architect that August. ^[34] Duncan received $1,000 for his design, ^{[6] [26]} and the runner-up was to receive $500. ^[35] Duncan's design, known as "Red Seal", ^{[36] [37]} called for a structure with statuary at the top and pilasters supporting the attic. There were supposed to have been pedestals at the base of either of the arch's abutments, topped by bronze allegorical groups of statues. ^[33] The arch was originally supposed to stand across an entrance into the park. ^{[5] [36]} However, Duncan objected to placing the arch on the park's perimeter, ^[5] and Brooklyn city officials agreed instead to build the arch at the plaza's southern end, within a median, in September 1889. ^[38] The arch was originally supposed to stand 100 feet (30 m) tall, but the Monument Commission recommended reducing the arch's height to reduce the amount of stone needed. Even with a reduced height, the arch was intended to be one of the world's largest triumphal arches. ^[37]

Construction

Several contractors were invited to submit bids for the arch in late 1889, ^{[39] [40]} and Cranford & Valentine were hired to excavate the foundations for $12,274. ^[41] Brooklyn's park commissioners also discussed relocating streetcar tracks in Prospect Park Plaza, as these tracks intersected near the site of the arch. ^[42] Duncan also contemplated raising the arch's foundation to make it more prominent, though he did not want to add " filigree ornamentation". ^[43] The cornerstone of the arch was laid on October 30, 1889, and Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman spoke at the ceremony. ^[44] The foundation of the eastern abutment was constructed first because the site of the western abutment was occupied by streetcar tracks. By the end of 1889, plans were being drawn up for the upper portion of the arch. ^[45] Duncan revised his plans for the arch in February 1890 so the abutments would be more sturdy. ^[46]

Work was delayed due to the need to relocate the streetcar tracks. ^{[47] [5]} In addition, while constructing the foundation, workers discovered a layer of muck beneath the site of the arch, a remnant of a former pond. ^[5] The Memorial Arch Commission solicited bids for the arch's stonework in March 1890 and received five bids, of which three were reviewed. Bernard Gallagher submitted the lowest of these three bids, at $174,592, and received the contract. ^[48] Gallagher was originally required to complete the arch within a year, but the Arch Commission extended the deadline to September 1891 shortly afterward. ^[41] John W. Fowler received a $16,995 contract in May 1890 to relocate the streetcar tracks so the rest of the arch could be constructed. ^[49] Four existing streetcar tracks in the plaza were rerouted, ^[47] and the new tracks were completed in July. ^[50] By that September, a temporary construction fence had been erected around the site of the arch, and the contractors had erected derricks to install the arch's granite pieces. ^[51] There were controversies when Brooklyn's park commission indicated that it would allow advertisements to be posted on the fence, ^{[52] [53]} and the commission ultimately decided against allowing advertisements. ^{[51] [53]}

Thomas Eakins and William Rudolf O'Donovan were hired c. 1891 to sculpt bas-reliefs of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. ^[10] The Union Granite Company also received contracts for bronze and granite bollards around the arch, as well as carvings on the arch's spandrels. ^[41] Some of the arch's stones became severely discolored shortly after they were installed, prompting allegations that iron was being used in place of granite. ^[54] State legislators also tried to allocate another $100,000 for the acquisition of statuary, ^{[55] [56]} but the effort was unsuccessful. ^[7] That July, Duncan submitted designs for the arch's spandrels to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch Commission. ^[57] The arch was supposed to have been completed in late 1891, ^{[56] [57]} but work was delayed because of a strike at the granite supplier's quarry. ^[58] The Arch Commission voted in July 1892 to install incandescent light bulbs on the southern facade and to delay the installation of all the arch's sculptures. ^[59] The monument ultimately cost $250,000 (equivalent to $8,478,000 in 2023). ^{[7] [60]}

Completion and modifications

The arch was dedicated on October 21, 1892, with a ceremony led by U.S. president Grover Cleveland; ^[61] the ceremony coincided with a citywide celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's expedition to the Americas. ^[62] When the arch was completed, the area around its base was devoid of plantings and ornamentation. ^[7] There were proposals to plant grass plots and flower beds in the plaza, as well as add statuary to the arch, after the monument was completed. ^[63] After the arch's dedication, the lights on the arch were not reactivated until January 1894. ^[64] The New-York Tribune also alleged that the arch's construction had been mismanaged and that several construction contracts had been grossly overpriced, such as the contract for the electric lights. ^{[41] [28]} The room atop the monument also remained empty for several years after its completion. ^[14]

Installation of bas-reliefs and sculptures

Brooklyn Park Commissioner Frank Squire engaged Frederick MacMonnies to design a quadriga, or chariot with four horses, above the arch in October 1894. ^[65] MacMonnies was also hired to design two other sculptural groups next to the arch's base. ^{[17] [66]} Eakins's and Donovan's bas-reliefs of Grand and Lincoln were installed during late 1895. ^{[67] [68]} The bas-reliefs were controversial, and critics regarded them as being of poor quality. ^{[68] [69]} Brooklyn park commissioner Timothy L. Woodruff initially refused to allocate $7,500 toward the bas-reliefs' $17,500 cost, ^[70] but he ultimately agreed to provide the funds in July 1896. ^[71] Additionally, as part of a renovation of Prospect Park Plaza, new lamps were installed, and several laurels and evergreens were planted around the monument to draw attention away from its bare walls. In addition, the bollards at the arch's base were moved, and workers installed a heavy bronze chain connecting the bollards. ^{[67] [72]} A pavement was also laid around the base of the arch. ^{[72] [73]}

Meanwhile, MacMonnies designed the arch's sculptures at his studio in Paris's Latin Quarter; ^[74] he was still sketching out the Army and Navy sculptures by mid-1896. ^[75] By June 1897, the design of the quadriga was finished. ^[76] MacMonnies used a different cast for each of the figures, such that none of the figures were identical. ^[77] The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) preferred that the sculptures be completed by Memorial Day in 1898, as they wanted to invite MacMonnies to see the dedication of his own work. ^[78] The quadriga was shipped to the United States in August 1898. ^[79] Although the arch was strong enough to carry the quadriga, ^[80] a granite foundation for it had to be built on the arch's roof. ^{[81] [82]} The quadriga's installation was delayed because workers had to wait for MacMonnies's foreman to come to the U.S., ^{[82] [83]} but the sculpture was in place by the end of 1898. ^{[81] [84]} MacMonnies had completed the cast of the Army statues by that November, ^[85] while the models for the Navy statues were finished by 1899. ^[86]

The Army sculptures were completed by March 1900 ^[87] and shipped to the U.S. that July. ^[88] MacMonnies initially refused to install the sculptures ^{[89] [90]} but ultimately relented after being notified that he would not be paid unless the sculptures were installed. ^{[91] [92]} Additionally, the sculptures' black iron frames had to be replaced with galvanized iron before they were installed, ^[88] and one of the Army sculptures' heads had to be replaced because there was insufficient space. ^{[88] [92] [93]} The Army sculptures were in place by November 1900. ^[94] The Navy sculptures were damaged while being shipped to the U.S.. ^{[95] [96]} They were repaired at the Barnard studio in Manhattan, ^[97] then transported across the Brooklyn Bridge for installation. ^[98] Pulleys were used to hoist the sculptures onto the pedestals, ^[11] and the sculptures were dedicated on April 13, 1901. ^{[11] [99]} The Army and Navy sculptures cost $50,000 ^[90] or $60,000 in total. ^[94] The eagles atop the arch, also designed by MacMonnies, were installed in late 1901. ^[100]

20th-century changes

In its early years, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch was visible from much of Brooklyn, as it was located atop one of the highest points in the borough. ^[101] The arch was the setting for annual events, such as the parades of the Boys Brigade ^[102] and Brooklyn's annual Memorial Day parades. ^[103] A ceremony was also held at the arch in 1926 when Prospect Park Plaza was formally renamed Grand Army Plaza. ^[104] Brooklyn park commissioner James J. Browne also requested $6,000 in 1929 to repair the arch, claiming that one of the quadriga's horses had come loose. ^[105]

By the 1970s, vandals frequently spray-painted graffiti on the arch and its sculptures. ^[106] The arch had never received a major restoration before 1971, when NYC Parks allocated $146,800 to clean the arch and install new pavement around it. In addition, NYC Parks planned to add new doors, gates, chains; replace the arch's bronze decorations; and reinstall damaged lampposts. ^[107] The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated the arch as a city landmark in October 1973, ^[108] and the Board of Estimate approved the designation that December. ^[109]

The Victory figure in the arch's quadriga came loose during a windstorm in October 1976, ^[110] prompting people to request that the figure be restored. ^[111] NYC Parks restored part of the arch in 1977. ^[111] City officials presented plans for a complete restoration of the arch to the LPC in March 1979. ^[112] Mayor Ed Koch announced in early 1980 that the arch would be restored as part of a renovation of Prospect Park, ^[113] and the Victory figure was reinstalled that October. ^[114] NYC Parks also reopened the arch's rooftop deck to the public on selected Sunday afternoons. ^[115]

21st-century changes

A private funding campaign in 1999 was established to restore the arch. ^[116] The observation deck atop the arch was closed in the 2000s because the deck had severely degraded. ^{[117] [118]} The Puppet Museum operated within the arch until 2010, when it moved to Brooklyn College because the arch started leaking. ^[117] The structure's roof partially collapsed at some point in the 2000s, and invasive species began growing from the cracks in the roof. ^[116]

The New York City government gave Prospect Park Alliance $8.9 million in August 2018 for a full restoration of the plaza, including restoration of the arch. ^{[118] [119]} At the time, the city planned to reopen the arch's observation deck once the renovation was complete. ^{[117] [118]} After debris fell from the arch in late 2018, the underside of the arch was fenced off. ^{[120] [116]} Designs for the project were announced in November 2020. ^{[116] [121]} Western Waterproofing Co. was awarded a contract to restore the arch in March 2023, ^[122] and work began that May. ^{[123] [124]} The project included restoration of the facade, stairways, lights, and roof. ^[24] The arch is closed during this work, which was expected to continue until spring 2024. ^[123]

Reception

In 1889, a writer for the magazine Harper's Weekly likened Duncan's design to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and to triumphal arches in Rome, although the arch was to be shallower and have a lower attic compared to the older arches. ^[36] Stone magazine wrote that the arch was unique among American memorials, which tended to be statues, columns, or shafts, and that the structure was impressive because of its size and large proportions. ^[4] Scientific American regarded the arch as "one of the most conspicuous and beautiful" war monuments, ^[13] The Manufacturer and Builder magazine described the arch as "noble in conception, imposing in magnitude, harmonious in proportion, and appropriate and effective in ornamentation". ^[26]

After the arch was dedicated, the Brooklyn Citizen wrote that the arch was "a noble specimen of monumental architecture, and does infinite credit to its talented designer, Mr. John H. Duncan". ^[125] A reporter for Scientific American wrote that they hoped the arch's completion would cause "the tasteless granite column" to fall out of fashion. ^[14] Conversely, the New-York Tribune described the arch as poorly placed, ^[126] and the Municipal Art Commission thought the arch faced the wrong way, toward the exit of Prospect Park. ^[127] The Brooklyn Times-Union described the Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch as superior to Manhattan's Washington Square Arch ^[127] and, in 1913, described the arch as the "Arc de Triomphe of America". ^[101]

After Eakins's and Donovan's bas-reliefs were installed, the Tribune quoted critics who described the relief as "obtrusive" and "humiliating", ^[69] and another critic wrote that Lincoln looked like he was "begging for pennies" with his hat. ^[11] The American Institute of Architects' Brooklyn chapter declared the reliefs to be "disreputable examples of the arts of sculpture and design". ^[128] When the quadriga was installed in 1898, The New York Times wrote that the sculptures attracted "much attention by reason of its artistic beauty", ^[66] while the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said the quadriga had a "proud, heroic, strong" effect. ^[129] The Brooklyn Daily Eagle critic wrote that the quadriga added an artistic touch to the arch, whereas the bas-reliefs were present purely for political purposes. ^[129] Brooklyn Life said the MacMonnies statues "are fine pieces of sculpture that will bear study at quite close range". ^[130]

A New York Times writer said in 1973 that the Grant and Lincoln reliefs evoked European equestrian statues but that they still had "downhome simplicity about them". ^[131] Paul Goldberger, writing for the same newspaper in 1984, said that while the Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch did not unite the surrounding neighborhood as well as the Arc de Triomphe did, the structure was still "the greatest classical grouping in New York City", drawing attention to the park's entrance. ^[132]

See also

• List of post-Roman triumphal arches
• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Brooklyn

References

Citations

Sources

• Berenson, Richard J.; DeMause, Neil (2001). The Complete Illustrated Guidebook to Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Silver Lining Books. pp. 102–155. ISBN  978-0-7607-2213-8.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch.

• Grand Army Plaza Monuments – Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch : NYC Parks