Victory Monument (Chicago)

Coordinates: 41°49′50.6″N 87°37′1.7″W / 41.830722°N 87.617139°W / 41.830722; -87.617139
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Victory Monument (disambiguation).

Victory Sculpture
Chicago Landmark
MPS
Black Metropolis TR
NRHP reference No.86001089 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 30, 1986
Designated CLSeptember 9, 1998

Erected in 1927, the Victory Monument, is a bronze and granite sculptural monument, based on a concept by John A. Nyden, and sculpted by Leonard Crunelle.[2] It was built to honor the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard, an African-American unit that served with distinction in France during World War I.[1] It may be the only memorial statue dedicated to African-American soldiers of the Great War.[3]

The memorial monument is located in the

Chicago Landmark on September 9, 1998.[4] An annual Memorial Day ceremony is held at the monument.[4]

Description and history

The Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art describes the monument:

A white granite shaft topped with a bronze doughboy sculpture. On the monument's shaft are three bronze relief panels depicting life-sized figures. (Victory Panel:) Left full-length profile of a Classically draped African-American female figure representing motherhood. In her hand she holds a branch symbolizing Victory. (Columbia Panel:) Full-length Classically draped female figure with a helmet on her head. In her proper left hand she holds a tablet inscribed with the names of battles in which African-American soldiers fought. (African-American Soldier Panel:) A bare chested African-American soldier of the 370th Infantry, which fought in France, standing with an eagle in left profile in front of him.[5]
In 1927, the State of Illinois erected this monument in the Chicago neighborhood known as "
Aisne-Marne region of France, just before the November 11, 1918 Armistice. The doughboy on top of the shaft was added in 1936.[5]
Fountain of the Great Lakes was almost located at 35th and King Drive; it is at the Art Institute of Chicago.

In 1908 while

Illinois Supreme Court, the Art Institute of Chicago considered locating the Fountain of the Great Lakes at 35th Street and Grand Boulevard (the latter has been renamed as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.)[6] Instead, the Victory Monument was installed at this intersection.[4]

The

Bud Billiken Parade has for many years traveled along King Drive. In some years, the Parade has started at 31st and King and in other years it has started as far south as 39th and King Drive.[7][8]
It has often started very near this monument.

In 2017, the monument received a grant for restoration as part of World War I centennial activities.[9]

Features

The monument features 4 bronze panels and a sculpture of a soldier atop that was added in 1936.

POW/MIA flag
.

Gallery

  • Close up view facing south
    Close up view facing south
  • View facing south
    View facing south
  • North walking court plaque
    North walking court plaque
  • Memorial plaque
    Memorial plaque
  • Monument and flagpole
    Monument and flagpole

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ "Chicago Landmarks - Landmark Details".
  3. ^ Garibay, Christopher (July 10, 2019). "Chicago community, Guardsmen Rededicate WWI Monument". Illinois National Guard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Victory Monument (Chicago)". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. 2003. Archived from the original on April 10, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Victory, World War I Black Soldiers' Memorial, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution Research Information System. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  6. ISBN 0-252-01501-0
    .
  7. ^ "Bud Billiken Parade". University of Chicago Medical Center. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  8. ^ "Bud Billiken Parade & Picnic". Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  9. ^ Pratt, Gregory (September 27, 2017). "For WWI centennial, six Illinois memorials to get restoration funds". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2017.

Further reading

External links

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