Lafayette Monument

Lafayette Monument is a bronze equestrian statue of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, by Andrew O'Connor, Jr. It is located on the northern edge of South Park at Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore, directly across a cobblestone circle from The Washington Monument. The monument was dedicated on September 6, 1924, with President Calvin Coolidge in attendance. The sculpture bears inscriptions by Andrew O'Connor and the T. F. McGann & Sons Co. foundry in Boston, Massachusetts. The base also includes a quotation beginning “LAFAYETTE IMMORTAL” and ending with a signature from Woodrow Wilson.

Lafayette Monument with a dark equestrian statue on a stone pedestal, a tall cylindrical monument behind it, and churches and buildings around the plaza. — The Lafayette Monument stands in a landscaped plaza, with a dark equestrian statue in front of a tall cylindrical shaft.
July 2015 © Bestbudbrian · CC BY-SA 4.0

The Lafayette Monument with an equestrian statue on a stone pedestal, a tall column behind it, and a Gothic-style church nearby. — The Lafayette Monument features an equestrian statue on a pedestal, with a tall monument behind it and a Gothic-style church in the background.
© Smalling, Walter Jr., creator · Public domain

Crowd gathered around the Lafayette Monument during an unveiling ceremony, with the equestrian statue partially covered in white fabric. — The Lafayette Monument is shown during its unveiling, with a large crowd assembled in the square around the partially draped equestrian statue.
1924 © Harris & Ewing, photographer · Public domain

Crowd gathered around the Lafayette Monument as a white sheet is being removed from the equestrian statue. — The Lafayette Monument is unveiled before a large crowd gathered in the street.
1924 © Harris & Ewing, photographer · Public domain

Identification
Type	Bronze equestrian statue
Title	Lafayette Monument
Iconography and meaning
Inscription theme	A commemorative text about Lafayette, France, and mutual wartime aid between France and America
Depicted person	Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834)
Creator
Artist	Andrew O'Connor, Jr.
Discovery and provenance
Foundry	T. F. McGann & Sons Co. Foundry, Boston, Massachusetts
Physical characteristics
Signed by	R. Poincaré; Woodrow Wilson
Inscription on west side of base	LA FAYETTE IMMORTAL / BECAUSE A SELF-FORGETFUL SERVANT OF / JUSTICE AND HUMANITY / BELOVED BY ALL AMERICANS / BECAUSE HE ACKNOWLEDGED NO DUTY MORE / SACRED THAN TO FIGHT FOR THE FREEDOM / OF HIS FELLOW-MEN. / WOODROW WILSON.
Inscription on rear proper left side	T. F. MCGANN & SONS CO FOUNDRY / BOSTON MASS
Inscription on front edge, proper left side	ANDREW O'CONNOR / 1924
English inscription	"Lafayette immortal because a self-forgetful servant of justice and humanity, beloved by all Americans because he acknowledged no duty more sacred than to fight for the freedom of his fellow-men." Signed by Woodrow Wilson.
French inscription	In 1777 Lafayette crossed the seas with French volunteers and came to bring fraternal aid to the American people, who were fighting for their national freedom. In 1917 France in turn was fighting to defend its life and the freedom of the world. America, which had never forgotten Lafayette, crossed the seas to help France, and the world was saved. Signed by R. Poincaré.
Founder's mark	Present
Inscription language	French and English
Date made	1924
Materials
Material	Bronze
Location and ownership
Position relative to other monument	Across a cobblestone circle from the Washington Monument
Location	Northern edge of South Park, at Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore
History and restoration
Dedication date	September 6, 1924
Dedication attendee	President Calvin Coolidge

Lafayette Monument

Identification

Iconography and meaning

Creator

Discovery and provenance

Physical characteristics

Materials

Location and ownership

History and restoration