Property Record
900 W WISCONSIN AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Spanish-American War Memorial |
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| Other Name: | Spanish-American War Memorial |
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| Reference Number: | 79392 |
| Location (Address): | 900 W WISCONSIN AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1932 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20012017 |
| Historic Use: | statue/sculpture |
| Architectural Style: | NA (unknown or not a building) |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Metal |
| Architect: | A. Koenig |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | 2001- "Designed by A. Koenig and cast by the American Art Bronze Company of Chicago, this 7' 4" bronze figure of a Spanish American War infantry soldier rests on a granite pedestal. The east face of the pedestal is inscribed, "To Those Who Served In The War With Spain 1898 - 1902." The statue was originally found at what was formerly the west end of the Court of Honor near North 11th Street before it was moved to its current location within the 900 block of W. Wisconsin Avenue in 1963. Donated by Spanish-American War veterans, this statue was dedicated August 21, 1932, at the Thirty-Fourth Annual National Encampment of the Veterans of the Spanish-American War of 1898-1902. Outdoor Sculpture in Milwaukee indicates that many Spanish-American War memorials were dedicated in the early-to-mid-twentieth century throughout the United States. Some of these memorials were mass-produced, including sculptor Theodora Alice Ruggles Kitson's, The Hiker, which had fifty-two reproductions cast by a foundry in Rhode Island that owned the rights to Kitson's design. Interestingly, a written description of The Hiker depicts it as, "a standing soldier, with his legs apart, and left foot forward. He is holding a rifle horizontally across the front of his body at waist level. A satchel and a canteen hang at his hips from shoulder straps. He is wearing a cartridge belt around his waist." Aside from the position of the rifle and feet (i.e., the butt end of the rifle is on the ground and his right foot is forward), it appears that the subject statue is very similar in design to The Hiker. Outdoor Sculpture in Milwaukee also notes that at least one additional casting of the subject sculpture was produced and installed at the Veterans Administration complex off National Avenue in Milwaukee at a later date. No information could be found regarding A. Koenig." - "Marquette Interchange, Milwaukee", WisDOT ID #1060-05-02, Prepared by Heritage Research (McQuillen) (2001). 2017 - The Spanish-American War Memorial is the easternmost of three statues/sculptures located in the median of the 900 block of West Wisconsin Avenue (the Court of Honor). The bronze sculpture is of a serviceman, holding a gun, with the butt resting at his feet. The bronze has a patina and is now green-blue in color. The figure stands on a granite pedestal that reads: “TO THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE WAR WITH SPAIN 1898-1920.” Above the inscription is an illegible seal. |
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| Bibliographic References: | . |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |