Wow, I didn't even know this one existed. But I've only ever sped through Indiana... the view from the highways is so boring, I figure I need to get through it before I fall asleep. I would think that the TV probably has shown this to me during Colts home games, but obviously didn't convey the scale enough to lodge it into my long-term memory. As the wiki says:
The Indianapolis monument is approximately 21 feet (6.4 m) shorter than New York City's 305-foot (93 m) Statue of Liberty.
That picture is incredible too. Crystal clear, aside from some of the motion blur and actually captures the sky really well.
The alleged architect's resume is pretty damn impressive as well. Funny the wiki made a comparison to the Statue of Liberty, because that's what I thought about this supposed work of his (the pedestal anyway):
Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlachtdenkmal) in Leipzig, Germany
Back to the Indianapolis obelisk... there's a Civil War museum in the basement too? Take the virtual tour:
There are a lot of interesting details in the wiki article alone
(KD, every article you post has a lifetime of potential work associated with it. When do you expect me to sleep??)
First of all, the 1892 blueprint:
There must be more somewhere right? If that's to scale, then we're missing about a third of the actual structure... no basement, no rest base, half the obelisk... maybe you don't need plans for an obelisk though. Back in the day, any architect/builder worth their salt could roll out of bed and put up an obelisk! ...
sounds kinda suggestive actually, moving on...
Just a few rapid fire sections that stood out to me:
Although ambiguous language in the authorizing bill created some confusion over the type of memorial to be erected, either a single monument or a combination of monument and memorial hall, the controversy was cleared up in 1893, six years after the bill's initial passage, when its confusing statement was repealed.
??? Well, I guess after six long years there's no way to find out the original intent.
The cost to complete the monument was $598,318. An estimate to erect a similar structure in 2014 suggests it would exceed $500 million
Wowza. At least it definitely looks like it though. No wonder they needed to make it a memorial for veterans of multiple wars, more bang for your buck!
Musicians played John Philip Sousa's "The Messiah of the Nations", a march he had composed for the occasion.
And who is the Messiah of the Nations? I betcha it's Liberty/Columbia/Isis or whatever name you want to call that pagan god (America?). The good news is we have lyrics:
In the need that bows us thus, America! Shape a mighty song for us, America! Song to whelm a hundred years, roar of wars and rain of tears. 'Neath a world's triumphant cheers, America! America! Lift the trumpet to the mouth, America! East and West and North and South, America! Call us round the dazzling shrine of the starry old ensign. Holier yet through blood of thine, America! America!
High o'er looking sea and land, America! Trustfully with outheld hand, America! Thou dost welcome all in quest of thy freedom, peace and rest. Ev'ry exile is thy guest, America! America! Thine a universal love, America! Thine the cross and crown there-of, America! Aid us, then, to sing they worth: God hath builded, from thy birth. The first nation of the earth, America! America!
Nothing to see there. Perfectly normal dedication song for war veterans.
Lastly:
During the Christmas season the monument is decorated as an enormous Christmas tree. This annual city tradition, which became known as the "Circle of Lights", began in 1962.
Man, that took awhile. Feel like they wanted this thing lit up to begin with:
1888 rendering of the monument from STONE magazine
Seems like there may be some more details in
this 1902 publication, I'll try to read through it at some point, but my queue of reading materials is starting to get more ridiculous than our mainstream timeline!
