Central Park 15

America's history is so new compared to the rest of the world. We also lack the amount of sculpture and public art found across major European cities. Sculptures like this are not only a celebration of American history and our European roots, but also a celebration of art in the city.

The Maine Monument, at the Southwest corner of Central Park in New York City, was designed by Harold Van Buren Magonigle and dedicated in 1913.

The monument features a pylon with a fountain at its base and sculptures by Attilio Piccirilli (Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Memorial). A sculpture group of gilded bronze figures atop the pylon represent Columbia Triumphant, her seashell chariot being drawn by three hippocampi. The bronze for this group reportedly came from metal recovered from the guns of the Maine. Fixed on the park side of the monument is a memorial plaque that was cast in metal salvaged from the ship.

The Maine Monument commemorates the 260 American sailors who perished on February 15th, 1898 when the USS Maine exploded while in the harbor in Havana, Cuba. Though the cause of the explosion remains unknown, many (including popular New York City newspapers) blamed Spain for the attack. The event was a catalyst that accelerated a diplomatic impasse between the United States and Spain, and the United States Congress declared war on Spain on April 25th, 1898. The war would last 8 months.

In 1995, the Central Park Conservancy re-gilded the figures. Conservancy sculptors carved new pieces for the missing part of the monument, and the stone was cleaned and pigeon-proofed. In 1997, the Conservancy restored Merchant's Gate and its surrounding landscape, transforming it into an inviting public plaza.

Central Park is one of the most visited urban parks in the world with over 40 million visitors a year stepping on its historical grounds. The park was established in 1857, the first section opened to the public during the winter of 1858, and it was expanded to its current size of 843 acres in 1873. The park's master landscape architect was Frederick Law Olmsted, also known for designing Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Belle Isle Park in Detroit, the Midway Plaisance in Chicago, and many other landmarks. Central Park is considered to be the world's most photographed park.