Smith Memorial Arch

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Memorial arch in Pennsylvania, U.S.

title: "Smith Memorial Arch" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["buildings-and-structures-in-philadelphia", "equestrian-statues-in-philadelphia", "historic-american-buildings-survey-in-philadelphia", "west-fairmount-park", "monuments-and-memorials-in-philadelphia", "triumphal-arches-in-the-united-states", "union-(american-civil-war)-monuments-and-memorials-in-pennsylvania", "sculptures-of-eagles-in-the-united-states"] description: "Memorial arch in Pennsylvania, U.S." topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Memorial_Arch" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Memorial arch in Pennsylvania, U.S. ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Smith_Memorial_Looking_Thru_South_Arch_(cropped).jpg" caption="West Fairmount Park]], [[Philadelphia]] (1898-1912). Looking north, through south archway."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Smith_Memorial_Arch_West_Fairmount_Park_Philadelphia_(cropped).jpg" caption="Overall view."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Unfinished_Smith_Memorial_Arch_circa_1905_LOC_4a12601v.jpg" caption="Memorial Hall]] in the background."] ::

Smith Memorial Arch is an American Civil War monument at South Concourse and Lansdowne Drive in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Built from 1897 to 1912 on the former grounds of the 1876 Centennial Exposition, it serves as a gateway to West Fairmount Park. The Memorial consists of two colossal columns supported by curving, neo-Baroque arches, and adorned with 13 individual portrait sculptures (two equestrians, three figures, and eight busts); two eagles standing on globes; and architectural reliefs of eight allegorical figures.

History

In 1891, Richard Smith (1821-1894), a wealthy Philadelphia electroplate and type founder, wrote a will that provided $500,000 ($ million today) for a memorial arch to be adorned with portraits of Pennsylvania's Civil War military and naval heroes. Smith deposited the model and designs for the memorial with the Fidelity Insurance Trust and Safe Deposit Company and stipulated that: Fidelity president John B. Gest handle his request, that the architectural designs and construction be handled by Philadelphia architect James H. Windrim, and that the selection and supervision of sculptors for the specified portraits should be handled by the Fairmount Park Art Association (now the Association for Public Art).

These provisions of the will went into effect upon the death of Smith's wife in 1895. Two years later, the Fairmount Park Art Association began to select the sculptors. The initial commissions were awarded on May 8, 1898, and the final sculpture was installed in 1912.

The estate of Richard and Sarah Smith also funded the creation of Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse, in East Fairmount Park.

Sculpture

Statues

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Smith_arch_Smith.jpg" caption="Statue of Richard Smith, donor of the memorial"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Smith_arch_John_B_Gest.jpg" caption="John B. Gest, executor of Smith's estate"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Windrim_Smith_Arch_Philly.JPG" caption="James Windrim, architect"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Smith_arch_eagle.jpg" caption="Eagle by John Massey Rhind"] ::

Equestrian statues

Busts

Other sculpture

  • Two eagles standing on globes by John Massey Rhind.
  • Eight bas-relief allegorical figures such as Courage and Heroism, also by Rhind
  • The Memorial's frieze is carved with the names of 84 Pennsylvania veterans.
  • The Memorial's inscription reads: ::quote

THIS

MONUMENTAL MEMORIAL

PRESENTED BY

RICHARD SMITH

TYPE FOUNDER

OF PHILADELPHIA –

IN MEMORY OF

PENNSYLVANIANS WHO

TOOK PART IN THE CIVIL WAR

THEIR STRIFE WAS NOT FOR

AGGRANDIZEMENT AND WHEN

CONFLICT CEASED THE NORTH

WITH THE SOUTH UNITED AGAIN

TO ENJOY THE COMMON HERITAGE

LEFT BY THE FATHERS OF OUR

COUNTRY RESOLVING THAT

THEREAFTER ALL OUR PEOPLE

SHOULD DWELL TOGETHER

IN UNITY. ::

References

Sources

  • Fairmount Park Art Association, Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze and Stone (New York: Walker Publishing Company, 1974), pp. 168–179.
  • Penny Balkin Bach, Public Art in Philadelphia (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1992), p. 208.

References

  1. "The Smith Memorial: James H. Windrim, Esq., (sculpture).".
  2. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/hellek23d/4238539023/ Meade statue] {{Webarchive. link. (2015-12-04 from Flickr.)
  3. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smareynolds.jpg Reynolds statue] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  4. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smasmith.jpg Smith statue] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  5. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smamcclellan.jpg McClellan equestrian statue] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  6. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smahancock.jpg Hancock equestrian statue] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  7. For the eight portrait busts, the Fairmount Park Art Association decided that a uniform base was needed. The base designed by Alexander Stirling Calder for his bust of General Hartranft was chosen as the standard for all of the busts on the arch. Source: SIRIS.
  8. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smahartranft.jpg Hartranft bust] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  9. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smacrawford.jpg Crawford bust] {{Webarchive. link. (2015-09-24 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  10. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smabeaver.jpg Beaver bust] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  11. link. (2011-06-22 from AskArt.)
  12. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smaporter.jpg Porter bust] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  13. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smadahlgren.jpg Dahlgren bust] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  14. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smacurtin.jpg Curtin bust] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  15. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smawindrim.jpg Windrim bust] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  16. [http://www.philart.net/images/large/smagest.jpg Gest bust] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-19 from Philadelphia Public Art.)
  17. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/hellek23d/4239301804/ Inscription] {{Webarchive. link. (2015-12-04 from Flickr.)

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buildings-and-structures-in-philadelphiaequestrian-statues-in-philadelphiahistoric-american-buildings-survey-in-philadelphiawest-fairmount-parkmonuments-and-memorials-in-philadelphiatriumphal-arches-in-the-united-statesunion-(american-civil-war)-monuments-and-memorials-in-pennsylvaniasculptures-of-eagles-in-the-united-states