Visit Cleveland’s Soldiers and Sailors Monument and pay tribute to the Civil War heroes that called the Cuyahoga Country home. View a list of the local soldiers who fought in the Civil War, delve into the tunnels underneath the monument, and appreciate the bronze reliefs that portray various scenes from the war.
In 1894, after almost 15 years of planning, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument was finally completed. Standing some 38 metres (125 feet) tall, the monument towers over Cleveland’s Public Square, making it one of the inner city’s most recognisable structures. It remains the premier Civil War memorial in Cleveland.
The monument’s distinctive feature is a 4.5-metre (15-foot) statue of Lady Liberty on the top. Take note of the column that she’s standing on: it is divided into six strips, each of which is engraved with the name of an important battle in the Civil War. At the foot of the statue, you’ll see four bronze sculptures. These represent the infantry, the artillery, the cavalry, and the navy.
Head into the tablet room inside the memorial’s wide base. Here you will find a list of the roughly 9,000 soldiers from Cuyahoga County who fought in the Civil War. The room also functions as a museum, displaying information about the war and its effects on the area. Four bronze reliefs on the wall portray different scenes from the Civil War, including The Beginning of the War in Ohio and The Emancipation of the Slaves.
Join one of the regular free guided tours to learn more about the monument and its importance. Your tour will also take you into the tunnels underneath the memorial and explain why some people believe that these are haunted.
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is free to enter and open all through the year. Check locally for the best time to go, since opening days and hours may vary. The monument is located in the southeast corner of Public Square, with metered parking close by.
