Wyoming Monument
Encyclopedia
The Wyoming Monument is an American Revolutionary War
monument and gravesite located in the borough of Wyoming, Pennsylvania
, in Luzerne County.
The monument marks the gravesite of the bones of victims of the Wyoming Massacre, which took place on July 3, 1778. Local residents banded together to defend the area against an invasion of British Tories as well as pro-Tory Native Americans. The battle ended in defeat for the colonial fighters and considerable brutality followed the battle. It was not until October 22, 1778 that a recovery party felt the region safe enough to return to begin recovery of the bodies of those slain in the battle. The remains were gathered and interred in a common grave, only to be dug up again at public ceremonies in 1832 — ceremonies attended by some of the then elderly survivors of the massacre. In 1833, the bones were re-interred in a vault under the present monument.
Ownership of the monument is held by the Wyoming Monument Association, originally formed as the Ladies Monumental Association. It is one of the oldest all-female historical groups in the United States.
Each year, beginning in 1878 for the 100th anniversary of the battle, a commemorative ceremony is held on the grounds of the stone obelisk. The ceremony is sponsored by the Wyoming Commemorative Association
.
On August 2, 2008, the monument was struck by lightning, causing some damage and putting the monument in need of repairs.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
monument and gravesite located in the borough of Wyoming, Pennsylvania
Wyoming, Pennsylvania
Wyoming is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States five miles north of Wilkes Barre, on the Susquehanna River. Formerly, coal mining was the chief industry. In 1900, 1,909 people resided in Wyoming. There were 3,010 residents in 1910...
, in Luzerne County.
The monument marks the gravesite of the bones of victims of the Wyoming Massacre, which took place on July 3, 1778. Local residents banded together to defend the area against an invasion of British Tories as well as pro-Tory Native Americans. The battle ended in defeat for the colonial fighters and considerable brutality followed the battle. It was not until October 22, 1778 that a recovery party felt the region safe enough to return to begin recovery of the bodies of those slain in the battle. The remains were gathered and interred in a common grave, only to be dug up again at public ceremonies in 1832 — ceremonies attended by some of the then elderly survivors of the massacre. In 1833, the bones were re-interred in a vault under the present monument.
Each year, beginning in 1878 for the 100th anniversary of the battle, a commemorative ceremony is held on the grounds of the stone obelisk. The ceremony is sponsored by the Wyoming Commemorative Association
Wyoming Commemorative Association
Wyoming Commemorative Association was founded in 1878 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Wyoming . This American Revolutionary War battle was fought on July 3, 1778, near Wilkes-Barre in present day Exeter, Pennsylvania.The Association was informally organized in 1877 to prepare...
.
On August 2, 2008, the monument was struck by lightning, causing some damage and putting the monument in need of repairs.