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Alexander Hamilton Memorial

Alexander Hamilton Memorial is a monumental statue of Alexander Hamilton in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. It was completed in 1939, though it remained in storage for more than 12 years because of bronze shortages during World War II. The monument was first proposed by philanthropist Kate Sturges Buckingham, who left $1 million to the Art Institute of Chicago for its construction and had sculptor John Angel design the statue and architect Eliel Saarinen plan a column that was never built. The statue was installed in 1952 on a plinth designed by Samuel A. Marx, later moved to a red granite pedestal in 1993. It was renovated in 2016 with extensive re-gilding.

Golden statue of Alexander Hamilton in historical attire on a dark pedestal against a blue sky.
The Alexander Hamilton Memorial stands on a dark pedestal, its gilded figure gleaming in the sunlight.
March 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Alexander Hamilton statue on a stone pedestal with a domed classical building in the background
The Alexander Hamilton Memorial in Lincoln Park, shown with a classical domed building behind it.
October 2010 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Alexander Hamilton Memorial statue of a man in period clothing holding a tricorn hat on a dark pedestal.
The Alexander Hamilton Memorial stands on a dark pedestal against a clear blue sky.
December 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Alexander Hamilton Memorial statue in colonial attire on a stone pedestal against a blue sky and a modern building.
The Alexander Hamilton Memorial stands on a stone pedestal in Lincoln Park, Chicago.
December 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Alexander Hamilton statue seen from behind, with Chicago skyscrapers in the background.
The Alexander Hamilton Memorial stands in front of Chicago’s skyline, facing a dark skyscraper with twin spires.
May 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

Typemonumental statue
TitleAlexander Hamilton Memorial

Iconography and meaning

SubjectAlexander Hamilton

Historical context

Proposal datebefore her death in 1937
Proposed byKate Sturges Buckingham
BequestUS$1 million to the Art Institute of Chicago for construction of the monument
Buckingham's view of HamiltonShe felt Hamilton was an underrated figure in the creation of the United States

Creator

Commissioned byKate Sturges Buckingham
SculptorJohn Angel
ArchitectEliel Saarinen
Architect's designA column for the statue to rest on
Pedestal designerSamuel A. Marx

Physical characteristics

Original pedestalLarge limestone and granite pedestal
Replacement pedestalNew red granite pedestal
Column statusNever executed
Storage delayStored for more than 12 years because of bronze shortages during World War II
Completion date1939

Location and ownership

Dedication date1952
Dedication locationLincoln Park
Current locationLincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States

History and restoration

Pedestal removal dateOctober 1993
Restoration date2016
Restoration cost$52,000
Restoration workExtensive regilding