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The Soldiers' Monument

The Soldiers' Monument is a memorial in Oregon, Illinois, dedicated in 1916. It consists of three statues by sculptor Lorado Taft: one bronze figure and two marble soldiers, arranged around an exedra designed by the architecture firm Pond and Pond. The central bronze woman, with arms outstretched and laurel wreaths in hand, represents America. Two marble soldiers flank her on pedestals, one an infantryman facing north and the other a cavalryman facing south. The monument includes marble steps, bronze dedication plaques, and honors veterans of the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.

The Soldiers\' Monument, a stone and bronze memorial with two standing figures and a central bronze figure holding wreaths.
The Soldiers\' Monument in Oregon, Illinois, with stone figures at either end and a bronze figure at the center.
May 2007 © · CC BY 2.5
Soldiers\' Monument in Oregon, Illinois, featuring a bronze-toned draped female figure with wreaths flanked by two stone soldiers.
The Soldiers\' Monument in Oregon, Illinois, shows a central draped female figure between two stone soldiers on a stepped platform.
September 2007 © · CC BY 2.5
Soldiers\' Monument stone soldier sculpture on a snowy platform beside a wall, with an evergreen tree in the background.
Soldiers\' Monument stands on a snowy platform outdoors near Courthouse Square in Oregon, Illinois.
January 2007 © · CC BY 2.5
Soldiers\' Monument bronze figure holding wreaths in front of a curved stone structure with snowy steps.
The Soldiers\' Monument features a bronze robed figure holding wreaths before a curved stone base.
January 2007 © · CC BY 2.5
Soldiers\' Monument stone statue of a man in a wide-brimmed hat and long coat holding a sword or rifle hilt.
Soldiers\' Monument shows a carved stone soldier figure in a wide-brimmed hat and long coat.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleThe Soldiers' Monument
TypeMonument

Historical context

Dedication date1916
Approved byOgle County Board in 1916

Creator

SculptorLorado Taft
ArchitectsPond and Pond

Discovery and provenance

Construction costno more than $21,000
Estimated valuemore than $1,000,000 (2007 estimate)

Physical characteristics

Plaquesbronze plaques honoring veterans
Seatingbuilt-in benches on either side of the central figure above the plaques
Stairscentered white marble stairs leading up to the main part of the monument
Architectural settingan exedra designed by Pond and Pond
South soldierinfantryman facing north, toward home
North soldiercavalry soldier facing south, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, toward battle
Central figureoversized classical female figure with outstretched arms holding a laurel wreath in each hand
Flanking figurestwo soldiers on pedestals, one facing north and the other facing south
StyleClassical
Overall compositiondominant central female figure flanked by two soldiers
Number of statuesthree

Iconography and meaning

Central figure meaningRepresents America
Honored groupsveterans of the Civil War and the Spanish-American War
Inscription"Ogle County honors her sons"

Materials

Statue materialsone bronze statue and two marble statues
Central figure materialbronze
Soldier materialmarble from Georgia, United States
Stair materialwhite marble

Location and ownership

LocationOregon, Ogle County, Illinois, United States
Part ofOregon Commercial Historic District
Historic district designationListed on the National Register of Historic Places in August 2006