Monument Circle

I spent time photographing the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana last weekend. It’s an impressive monument that stands 284 feet tall (just 15 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty) with a beautiful view of the city from the observation deck. You can climb the 331 stairs to the top, or pay $2 for a round-trip elevator ride.

The monument was established in 1888 and designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz. It was finished in 1901 and is dedicated to the many Hoosiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.

I was intrigued by the many sculptures that are built into the monument, which include War, Peace, The Dying Soldier and The Homefront. The surrounding fountains also include beautiful bronzes of bison and bear.

For this week’s A-Z Archive Challenge, I selected a portion of the sculpture War. The intensity of the men fighting and the fearful expressions of the two horses really moved me. If you ever travel through Indianapolis, this is one place you should certainly visit.