America’s first-ever monument to the ordinary soldier has an extraordinary story behind it

Langsdale’s 13-Year Campaign for Indianapolis’s Soldiers Monument

One cold night in 1875, six Civil War vets huddled in a small-town print shop in Greencastle, Indiana.

Led by newspaper man George Langsdale, they hatched a bold plan: build a monument for the common soldier, not just the brass. The idea caught fire.

Soon, the state kicked in $200,000, and German architect Bruno Schmitz won the design contest. After 13 years of work and nearly $600,000 spent, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument rose 284 feet above Indianapolis.

Today, this towering tribute stands as the first major U.S. memorial honoring ordinary troops rather than generals.

Civil War Veterans Huddled Around a Stove on a Cold Winter Night

Six Civil War veterans met in George Langsdale’s newspaper office on a cold winter night in 1875. This group, called “The Banner Alley Sextet,” included J.A. Jackson, Captain Joseph Donohue, Lieutenant Henry Meltzer, Captain J.F. Fee, and Captain Lucius Chapin.

They talked about building a monument for regular soldiers who fought in the Civil War, not just the generals.

Langsdale, both a newspaper man and war veteran, became the leader for this big idea that would change Indianapolis forever.

Langsdale Pitched His Monument Plan at a Veterans Reunion

Langsdale stood before fellow soldiers at the first Civil War veterans reunion in Indianapolis in August 1875. He shared his idea for a memorial to honor Indiana’s fallen soldiers, not just high-ranking officers.

The veterans loved his plan and clapped as he spoke.

Their warm support led to the creation of a monument group, turning a friendly chat into a real movement with growing backing across the state.

Veterans Passed the Hat for Twelve Long Years

The Indiana branch of the Grand Army of the Republic took over the monument project and started collecting money. Veterans went door to door, held fundraisers, and asked for donations at meetings throughout Indiana.

By 1887, they gathered $23,380, but this fell short of what they needed.

The veterans knew they needed help from the state to make their dream real, so they gave the project to Indiana officials.

Indiana Lawmakers Put Money Behind the Monument

The Indiana General Assembly passed a bill on March 3, 1887, that created a monument committee and set aside $200,000 for the project. The committee included Samuel Voyles, D.C. McCollum, Daniel Ransdell, George Johnson, James Gookins, and George Langsdale.

They picked Langsdale as president at their first meeting on June 28, 1887.

After 12 years of pushing for this monument, Langsdale now had the official support and money to make it happen.

The Search for a Designer Went Global

The committee wanted a special design, so they started a worldwide contest for an “original American Monument. ” They put ads in major newspapers across the United States, Canada, England, France, Germany, and Italy.

By January 12, 1888, they got 70 designs from architects around the world.

The judges looked at all entries without knowing who made them, making sure they picked the best design based only on quality.

A German Architect Beat Out 69 Other Designers

Bruno Schmitz from Berlin, Germany, won the design contest with his entry “Symbol of Indiana. ” The committee picked his design over 69 other plans, voting for his vision without any disagreement.

Schmitz knew committee secretary James Gookins from their time together in Munich.

His winning design showed a tall obelisk with steps, fountains, pools, and many statues that would tell the story of Indiana’s Civil War experience.

Ground Was Broken as President Harrison Watched

Building started in 1888 when Enos Hege from Indianapolis got the job to make the foundation. Workers laid the cornerstone on August 22, 1889, during a ceremony with President Benjamin Harrison.

Thomas McIntosh from Langsdale’s hometown of Greencastle became the project manager. The Terre Haute Stone Works Company won the contract to build the terraces, approaches, and main structure.

Artists Added Life-Sized War Scenes to the Monument

The committee hired Austrian sculptor Rudolf Schwarz in 1899 to create massive “War and Peace” limestone scenes showing the Civil War story.

Three bronze bands called astragals, made by Nikolaus Geiger and George Brewster, wrapped around the obelisk. John Mahoney and Franklin Simmons created more bronze statues placed around the monument grounds.

Workers built everything using Indiana limestone from Owen County quarries.

The Project Faced Delays and Growing Costs

The 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago pulled designers away from the Indianapolis project, slowing progress. In 1895, the state replaced the Monument Commission with a Board of Monument Regents to speed things up.

The new board asked Schmitz to hurry and finish his designs.

As work continued, costs grew well beyond the original $200,000 budget, forcing the state to add more money to the project.

Workers Topped the Monument with a Massive Victory Statue

Workers built the main shaft of the monument between 1889 and 1892.

A 38-foot-tall Victory statue with an eagle on top crowned the structure at its full height of 284 feet. The finished project in 1901 cost $598,318, almost three times more than first planned.

After 13 years of building, the monument stood tall in downtown Indianapolis, just as Langsdale dreamed back in his print shop.

Thousands Cheered as Sousa Played and Riley Read Poetry

May 15, 1902 brought the formal dedication of the monument with thousands of people filling the streets of Indianapolis. General Lew Wallace served as master of ceremonies for the all-day celebration.

Famous Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley read his poem “The Soldier,” written just for the occasion.

John Philip Sousa and his band performed “The Messiah of the Nations,” a march Sousa composed specially for the dedication.

The monument became the first in America dedicated to common soldiers rather than generals, fulfilling Langsdale’s vision that began in a small-town newspaper office.

Visiting Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, Indiana

The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument is at 1 Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. You can take the elevator to the observation deck for $2 (adults) or $1 (kids), plus veterans get free admission.

If you want to save money, climb all 330 steps for free. After the elevator, you’ll still need to walk up 49 more steps to reach the viewing windows.

The monument is open Thursday through Sunday from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM and has a gift shop at the bottom.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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