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- Apr 18, 2019
- Location
- Upstate New York
Near the center of the city of Portland, Maine is Monument Square, a popular meeting place and location of summer farmers' markets and the holiday tree. At the center of the square stands the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, dedicated to the men of Portland who served in the Civil War.
Fundraising for the memorial began in the 1870s, spearheaded by the local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic. When sufficient funds were secured the organizers hired native Maine sculptor Franklin Simmons. He was paid $20,000 for his work. The granite base for the sculpture was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt.
On either side of the base are two sculptures depicting soldiers and sailors in uniform. The statue on top of the base is known as "Our Lady of Victories." It stands 14 feet high. All of the sculptures are made of bronze.
The rear of the base contains a memorial plaque describing the sacrifices made by Portland in support of the Union. The entire structure was dedicated in 1891. It originally had gardens surrounding it but is now in a brick and cobblestone plaza. The monument was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
All photos by @lupaglupa 2022
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