[Unveiled
1913] Sculpted: 1901-1913 Architect: H. Van Buren Magonigle • USA Sculptor: Attilio Piccirilli 1901-1913 • Italy
Gift of the National Maine Monument
Fund Committee
At the entrance of Merchants'
Gate, the
main gateway into Central Park, stands
the colossal marble statue and fountain of the
Maine Monument. A powerful 1913
Beaux Arts monument to commemorate the
controversial sinking of the battleship Maine
in 1898 and created in a 1901 design contest
sponsored by a Spanish-American War
commission vice-chaired by media magnate
William Randolph Hearst who had a driving
interest in promoting the cause.
It is a massive 44-foot limestone pylon,
crowned at the top with a gilded bronze
sculpture of Columbia Triumphant in a
seashell chariot pulled by three hippocampi,
sea horses that signifies the United States'
dominance of the seas. At the pylon's base,
surrounding the ship are the mythological
figures, Victory, Peace, Courage, Fortitude
and Justice.
Though the destruction of the Maine as it
sank in the harbor of Havana, Cuba claiming
the lives of 266 seamen, was later revealed
to be a terrible accident the popular
jingoistic slogan, "Remember the Maine"
lives on.
Maine
Monument: W59
[Unveiled 1927]
Sculpted: 1926-1927
Sculptor: Karl Illava 1896-1954 • USA
Gift of the 7th-107th Memorial Committee
Located along Fifth Avenue on the
perimeter of Central Park, is the powerful
statue of seven American soldiers who
memorialize the grueling battles of
World War I.
Three of the men have bayonets
ready for battle, while the weight of a
wounded solider collapses into the
embracing arms of a fellow comrade.
As a former sergeant in the 107th,
Karl Illava has brought the experience of
his own emotions to portraying the valor
of his comrades in battle.
