- The Soldiers' Monument (Oregon, Illinois)
Infobox nrhp
name = The Soldiers' Monument
nrhp_type = cp
caption = Lorado Taft's "The Soldier's Monument" in Oregon, Illinois.
location = Oregon,Ogle County, Illinois , USA
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 0
lat_seconds = 47
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 89
long_minutes = 19
long_seconds = 59
long_direction = W
area =Oregon Commercial Historic District
built = 1916 [http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/PDFs/223428.pdf National Register of Historic Places Registration Form] , Oregon Commercial Historic District, HAARGIS Database, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Retrieved 30 January 2007.]
architect = Pond and Pond,Lorado Taft
architecture =
added =August 16 ,2006 [http://www.nr.nps.gov/nrloc1.htm NRIS Database] , National Register of Historic Places, retrieved January 23, 2007.] As part of the Oregon Commercial Historic District
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 06000713
mpsub =
governing_body =The Soldiers' Monument is an installation of three sculptures and an architecturally designed
exedra inOregon, Illinois , the county seat ofOgle County, Illinois . It was designed, constructed and sculpted by the architects at Pond and Pond and famed sculptorLorado Taft . Upon its completion it was dedicated in 1916. The sculpture is part of theOregon Commercial Historic District . The district was designated and listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in August 2006.Location
This example of
public art is located just offIllinois Route 64 as it passes through Oregon. It sits on the southeast side of theOld Ogle County Courthouse square.Monument
Description
[http://www.oregonil.com/attractions-courthouse.html Ogle County Courthouse] , Attractions, City of Oregon. Retrieved 30 January 2007.] ; above the individual war plaques is bronze plating that reads, "Ogle County Honors Her Sons." Flanking the dominant sculpture are two soldiers atop pedestals, one facing north and the other facing south. Tafts's soldiers were cut from marble obtained in the U.S. state of Georgia.
The Soldiers' Monument was constructed, on the approval of the Ogle County Board in 1916, for no more than $21,000. Today, this example of the work of
Lorado Taft is estimated to be worth over $1,000,000.Interpretation
The center female bronze figure, clutching the laurel wreaths is meant to represent America. The soldiers stare off into the distance as if longing for something. The soldier on the south side of the monument is an
infantry man and is staring north, toward home. The other soldier, on the north half of the installation, is acavalry soldier, he is looking south, with his hand on thehilt of his sword. The cavalry soldier is looking toward battle.References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.