The Pennsylvania State Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Pennsylvania State Memorial is an American Civil War
monument on the Gettysburg Battlefield
, that commemorates the 34,530 Pennsylvania soldiers who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg
and are listed on the Bronze tablets on the monument's walls.
. The 4 corner towers are architectural piers
linked by arches, and a spiral staircase within the northwest tower leads to an observation deck
. Stairs beneath each arch rise to the central domed interior of the pavilion's memorial hall. Flanking the arches are spandrel
bas-reliefs of goddesses, and above them are bas-relief parapet
panels depicting the Artillery, Cavalry, Infantry, and Signal Corps.http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/gettkidz/mn~mnts.htm The piers' engaged column
s form niches for the statues.
The domed pavilion
uses North Carolina granite over a frame of iron-reinforced concrete and cost $240,000 (~$4 million in year 2000 dollars).
, Union battle lines now marked with monuments along Hancock Avenue near the memorial were occupied by artillery and, late in the day, reinforced with infantry. Previously-placed Gettysburg monuments commemorating the state include the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument
s of 1883 and 1891 at The Angle
.
Former governor Andrew G. Curtin's idea for the "Pennsylvania Memorial Hall" originated prior to a legislative bill vetoed by Governor Beaver in 1889 for a hall on Little Round Top
to display "a treasury of trophies and mementos of all the Pennsylvania regiments that fought at Gettysburg", and which was to be 60 ft (18.3 m) across. Instead, the current site was selected in 1909http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SrAlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3317,1780507&dq=triumphal-arch+gettysburg&hl=en and the PA memorial was planned for completion with a peace memorial for the battle's 50th anniversary (the latter was completed in 1938
). After the PA memorial structure was completed in 1910, Humphreys Avenue on the east side was surveyed in 1911. The Pennsylvania State Monument was rededicated on National Day at the 1913 Gettysburg reunion (Red Cross rest station no. 8 was near the memorial). In 1929, the monument's copper was relined and defective woodwork was replaced. The Humphreys Av comfort station near the memorial was completed in 1933 as the first Gettysburg Parkitecture
structure using Gettysburg granite as for the native colonial structures (e.g., 1776 Dobbin House Tavern
)in the Gettysburg Battlefield Historic District.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
monument on the Gettysburg Battlefield
Gettysburg Battlefield
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the 4 acre site of the first shot & at on the west of the borough, to East...
, that commemorates the 34,530 Pennsylvania soldiers who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
and are listed on the Bronze tablets on the monument's walls.
Description
A granite Beaux-arts pavilion crowned by a dome with sculpture, and set upon a 100-foot-square base, it is the largest monument on the Gettysburg BattlefieldGettysburg Battlefield
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the 4 acre site of the first shot & at on the west of the borough, to East...
. The 4 corner towers are architectural piers
Pier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
linked by arches, and a spiral staircase within the northwest tower leads to an observation deck
Observation deck
__FORCETOC__ An observation deck, observation platform or viewing platform is an elevated sightseeing platform usually situated upon a tall architectural structure such as a skyscraper or observation tower...
. Stairs beneath each arch rise to the central domed interior of the pavilion's memorial hall. Flanking the arches are spandrel
Spandrel
A spandrel, less often spandril or splaundrel, is the space between two arches or between an arch and a rectangular enclosure....
bas-reliefs of goddesses, and above them are bas-relief parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
panels depicting the Artillery, Cavalry, Infantry, and Signal Corps.http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/gettkidz/mn~mnts.htm The piers' engaged column
Engaged column
In architecture, an engaged column is a column embedded in a wall and partly projecting from the surface of the wall, sometimes defined as semi or three-quarter detached...
s form niches for the statues.
The domed pavilion
Pavilion (structure)
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
uses North Carolina granite over a frame of iron-reinforced concrete and cost $240,000 (~$4 million in year 2000 dollars).
History
The Battle of Gettysburg, Second DayBattle of Gettysburg, Second Day
The Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day was an attempt by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to capitalize on his first day's success. He launched the Army of Northern Virginia in multiple Gettsyburg Battlefield attacks on the flanks of the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George G...
, Union battle lines now marked with monuments along Hancock Avenue near the memorial were occupied by artillery and, late in the day, reinforced with infantry. Previously-placed Gettysburg monuments commemorating the state include the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument
72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument
"72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument" is the name of 2 American Civil War monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield: and a larger 1891 statuary memorial...
s of 1883 and 1891 at The Angle
The Angle
The Angle is a Gettysburg Battlefield area which includes the 1863 Copse of Trees used as the target landmark for Pickett's Charge, the 1892 monument that marks the high-water mark of the Confederacy, and several other Battle of Gettysburg monuments...
.
Former governor Andrew G. Curtin's idea for the "Pennsylvania Memorial Hall" originated prior to a legislative bill vetoed by Governor Beaver in 1889 for a hall on Little Round Top
Little Round Top
Little Round Top is the smaller of two rocky hills south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was the site of an unsuccessful assault by Confederate troops against the Union left flank on July 2, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg....
to display "a treasury of trophies and mementos of all the Pennsylvania regiments that fought at Gettysburg", and which was to be 60 ft (18.3 m) across. Instead, the current site was selected in 1909http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SrAlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3317,1780507&dq=triumphal-arch+gettysburg&hl=en and the PA memorial was planned for completion with a peace memorial for the battle's 50th anniversary (the latter was completed in 1938
1938 Gettysburg reunion
The 1938 Gettysburg reunion was a Gettysburg Battlefield encampment of American Civil War veterans for the Battle of Gettysburg's 75th anniversary. The gathering included approximately 25 Gettysburg battle veterans and had totals of 1,359 Federal and 486 Confederate attendees of the 8,000...
). After the PA memorial structure was completed in 1910, Humphreys Avenue on the east side was surveyed in 1911. The Pennsylvania State Monument was rededicated on National Day at the 1913 Gettysburg reunion (Red Cross rest station no. 8 was near the memorial). In 1929, the monument's copper was relined and defective woodwork was replaced. The Humphreys Av comfort station near the memorial was completed in 1933 as the first Gettysburg Parkitecture
National Park Service Rustic
National Park Service rustic, also colloquially known as Parkitecture, is a style of architecture that arose in the United States National Park System to create buildings that harmonized with their natural environment. Since its founding, the National Park Service consistently has sought to provide...
structure using Gettysburg granite as for the native colonial structures (e.g., 1776 Dobbin House Tavern
Dobbin House Tavern
The Dobbin House Tavern, known also as Dobbin House, on 89 Steinwehr Avenue in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is a tavern which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
)in the Gettysburg Battlefield Historic District.