Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Located at the center of Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis is the historic Soldiers and Sailors Monument. This monument standing around three hundred feet tall is not only the site of many concerts and festivals, but is also a reminder to all of the men who fought to defend our country. This Monument was built in honor of Indiana’s heroes that died in the War for the Union (1861-65), War with Mexico (1846-48), Indian and British Wars (1811-1812), War of the Revolution, and America capturing Vincennes from the British.
The State had talked of building a war monument, but it wasn’t until 1875 that a Monument Association was formed. One thousand dollars was raised, but no real progress took place. Two years later Governor Oliver P. Morton died and a sculpture of him was placed in the center of Circle Park, known today as Monument Circle. Ten years later a bill was passed committing the State to build a monument in honor of the veterans of the Civil War. This was the...