B-14 Battle Monument
Architectural Survey File
This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse- chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation such as photographs and maps.
Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment.
All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust.
Last Updated: 03-10-2011 ~-~ .-· _, - ,. (..• "i. • ,. t .,,, "•.· B-14 ·' "~ - ..~. a. .... ~· · -A. • Form 10-300 UNI TED STATES DE PARTMENT O F THE INTERIOR STA TC· (Jul r 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Maryland -. COUNTY · NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Baltimore City INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ----- ENTRY NUMBEH I DA 1· E ( Type a ll entries - compfoti.: ilpplicabfo sections) I
COM-,.ON . ··- -- 1··· The Battle Monument . AN O OR H ISTORI C : r2locA"i--loN__ _,. , ..
STR EET .Al"~C NUMBER :
Center of Calvert ~treet (between Favette & Lexinqton Sts . ) ~!TY en T OWN:
' Baltimore IS T AT\:. I C ODE I COUNTY · I coot: r- .1- ~~EY_~~n
I i u PRESEl-&T USE (Cht--ck 0 11 f" or ,\J•)r t" t1.'4 Appr opri11Ct-) " - -· ·------· ::> CJ Ag1i cu lturo I ~ Government IX Pork [] Transportation 1-J Comments ~ [~ Commerciol r I lndusl \ -.·-----·- --- -iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil 6#M~~-~~··• ." • ,·.~·. ~: • •.. • . • .. , ·•,, r • • ,• B-14 '··c ---"-- -·---'-.r"\ • DESCRIPT_l_Ot-1_ _ ~ - (Check One) 0 Excellent ~ Good 0 Deteriorated 0 Ruins 0 Unex po5ed CONDIT ION (Che.:k On.:) ( Check One) 0 Altere d !Xi Una ltered I n Moved XJ Original Si te DESCRIBE THE PRESENT ANO ORIGI N A L ( if lmown) PHY S IC AL APP E AR A NC E The Battle Monument, constructed partly of white Italian marble and partly of a lowe r grade local marble, consists of the following parts: platform and base , podium, column, and sculpture group. At the bottom is the platform of granite curbs, rounded at the corners, with a concrete pavement surface. An iron anchor chain of reinforced links is stretched between 1 2 marble posts ; the four corner posts once held gas lamps . The square base , about 30 inche s above the pave ment, is faced and topped with marble slabs. The sides have three panels , and the lower edge of the top slab has a simple molding. At the solid blocks of each corner on low plinths are bronze facsimile cannon pointing upwards . The muzzle of each cannon is closed with a hemisphere to appear as if a ball were issuing from it. Between the cannon is an iron fence composed m of palings of darts , each with a bronze or brass point , capped with a rounded terminal at the bottom. Two intermediate m posts· on each side are made of bundles of the same darts bound with iron strip f illets like a fasces . Near the top and z bottom of the palings is an iron stretcher , and at several points the fence rests on iron balls . On the south side of the base is a bronze plaque, placed there in 1915, and in scribed with a history of the monument. c: On each side of the rusticate d marble podium is a false door n like that of the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli, closed by a black -; slab. The podium rests on a low platform with three steps cut i nto it at each doorway in allusion to the three days of the Battle of Baltimore. The carved moldings around the doors 0 are classical , but the podium is essentially Egyptian in 'Z style. Carved in the cavetto cornice are winged solar disk emblems over each door and stylized lotus designs; at each corner is a kind of anthemion device. Above the cornice are two stages of slabs. At each corner of the upper stage is a white marble griffin, the symbol of immortality , with a head in the form of an eagle to r e p~esent the emblem of the United States. Above this are three more stages of slabs of equal size ; on the south side are bronze letters commemorating the Battles of North Point and Fort McHenry and the 39 years of American independence . The white marble column rests on a very low molde d foot of the darker marble. It appears to be made in f ive or six horizontal sections; three joints are clearly visible . The shaft is sculptured to resemble a fasces, with a broad band at the top and the bottom, three narrow decorative bands , and two fillets laced about the central section . On the nort h and south side s of the lower band are bas relie fs d e picting the two b a ttles ; above that is a band of 15 sta rs . The upper two b a nds have [see continuation s heet] ,. . ·' B-14 • 1 ·' f'1 · SIGNIFICANCE·-- - ""------PERI O D (Check One or ~1ore u.<; Apptoµriutc-) D P re-Co lumbian , f] 16th Century [] 18th Ce ntur y L I 20th Century D 1 5th Century ll 17th Century t&J 19th Century SPEC I Fl c DAT E ( SI ( If App/io ibl o and Knvwn) 1815 AREAS O F SIGN I FICANCE (Check One.• o t ft1o re Dfi Appro priate) Abar iginol 0 Educoti on D Poli t ical 0 Urban Planning 0 P rehi stor ic D Engineering n Religion / P hi. 0 Other ( Spec ify) D H istori c D Indus t ry losophy D Agricu ltu re 0 Jnven tion L! Sc i en ce 11$ Arc h i tecture 0 Lands cope !XI Sc u lp ture D Art A r chi fec ture [_] Soc ool l Humon · 0 Commerc e Cl L itera ture i tori on Communications 0 ~ Mil itary I J Thoot cr 0 Conservot io n 1-J Music I I T ro n s porto t io n ST A TEMENT OF S I GNIFI CANCE The Battle Monument is the first significant war memorial built in the United States , and contributes to Bal timore ' s fame as " The Monumental City." It commemorates those Americans who died in. t he Battle of Baltimore, during wh i ch our national z anthem was written. 0 The Battle of Baltimore took p l ace from September 1 2th to 14th, 1814. The city was successfully defended against British attack both from land, at the Battle of North Point , and from the sea, during the bombardment of Fort McHenry . Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the morning of September 14th after observing this attack on Fort McHenry by the British fleet . The repul se of the British forces at Bal t i more was an important factor in det ermining z the outcome of the War of 1812. Construction of the monument was begun on the first anniversary of the battl e. LU The Battle Monument was designed by the French architect LU Maximilian Godefroy , who had helped to plan the fortifications V'I of the city dur ing the British attack. Godefroy was the first professi onal teacher of architecture in the cit y . His unusual "Fascia!" desi gn for the monument combined Classical elements , base d on the fasces , a bundle of rods bound about an ax with projecting blade and used as the ancient Roman symbol of authority; and Egyptian e l ements , reflecting French interest following Napoleon ' s conquest of Egypt in 1 798 . The sculp tured figure on the top of the monument , the griffins, and the two sculptu red rel~e f s on the shaft were made by the Spanish sculptor Antonio Capellano, and are among the oldest existing monumental sculptures in the country. The monument is the official emblem of the City of Baltimore, having bee n adopted for the City Seal in 1827 ; as s uch it appears on Baltimore ' s City Flag. The location of the Battle Monument is also of historic inte r est since it was once the site of the first Baltimore Courthouse , where the De claration of Independe nce was publicly read on July 29th, 1776. Now known as Battle Monument P l aza , [see continuation sheet] ,______------r.; ~ B-14 r9. MAJOR BIB LIOGRAPHI~ RE_F_E_R_E_N_C_E_S______---~~L------=]---, Arnett, Earl. "Battle Monument Memorial To Defense Of City. II The Sun, Baltimore: September 12, 1969. _/ Hunter, Wilbur Harvey, Jr. Historic American Buildings Survey The Battle Monument. HABS No. MD-185. Baltimore: November, 1959. I [see continuation sheet] ~·------·------·----A·.. ------·· ~ 10. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA .. _.,...., _ ··-- -· --· -- -~-· ··----- __ - .., ~~- ~.~i;;~ · ~;;~NGlfUDE ~;~-;-;;~S---f l . /\TITU DE. AM O LONGl iUDF... COORDINAT F S ' DEFININ G A RECTANGLE LOCA .f l NG r 1H.;: F'ROl-'£1-!TV 0 OrFINING THE c r:1{TER POINT OF A PROPLR1·v_J 0~ L F:S ~ THAN T .." N A CRES - ·- R CORNER LATITUDE L ONGITUDE •_ A1· 11UDE LO NGI ru t)L ~ Degrees Mi nutes Seconds Degrees M inutes Seconds Degree< Minutes Seconds Dagrecs M n'lutes Seconds NW 0 . .. 0 .. <) . 0 .. NE 0 .. 0 .. 39 17 26.0 76 36 45.5 SE a .. a .. SW a . . 0 ' . l I APPROXIMA T E A CRE:AGE OF N OMINATED PROPER TV: ____qne _ ac_re._ ·-· -·------1LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING--- ST AT E OR COUNTY BOUNOARIE. ~ 1 STATE: COrl E - --COUNTY--- cont: m m ------~------STATE: ------cooc COUNrv COO i ·-i----···- - - · STATE: CODI: -----COUN-1 Y . CC1C"F z . .· STATE: COOE COUN 1.Y : cone: -t l :::0 ·.· ... . -- ~ ...... -. ""!:"..... - ...... --7 .. -··- ···--· JM. :. FORM P·REPAREO BY ·------···· · '° ··- c NAME AND TITLE: -- n Joyce Maclay and Catharine Black. ORGAN I ZATION I OATE -t Maryland Historical Trust Sept. 20, 197) - -·------STREET AN O NUMBER: 0 2525 Road Riva ------· .. -- .. z CITY OR T OW N: S f A Tl! CO IJ~ Anna:eolis . ~-----,..----·--. _____ ~ Marv land 21401 24 LIAISON OFFICE R CERi'IFICA I JON !12. HAH:' ... :. . NATIONAL REGISTER VERiFICATION As the desi11,nated State L iaison Officer for the Na- I hereby cer tify that this propert y is included in the t ional Historic Preservatio n Act of I C)(>(, ( P ublic La'{>I Nntiona l l ~egis t e r . 89-665), I hereby n omina t e th i s property for inclusion in the N ati o n a l Rt:gister a nd certify that it hos he., n e v a l uat ed according to the c rit e ri;i ancl proc.:du r es set forth by the Natit1na l P a rk Service. The rec<>mmcndO'd C /Jief , O Uice ot Archeology and fJi;;tori G Pre.«ervrition level o f sit4nific<1 11cc of this n<>mi 11nt1011 i,.;· N a tiona l X l Stult' I I 1.ocal l 1 l i(llt• (Y1. .. - N1-1mc c)11Yo/ll\ Yo ,,~" cP A- ,v ATTE~T: Orlando Ridout IV Title State Liaison Office r for Maryland K oeper of 'T'lle National R egi s te r Sept . l ~)n 1) ~1 l t: 27' I ;at 1 • ------·-·-- -- ~ ------ G P 0 !I O I .0 ~ 7 .. B-14 Form 10-3000 u STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ST A TE (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Maryland NATIONAL REGISTER OF HI STORIC PLACES COUN T Y Baltimore Cit INVENTORY · NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY EN T RY N U MBER DATE (Con tinuation Sheet) (Number ell entrltu1) The Battle Monument #6 . REPRESENTATION I N EXISTING SURVEYS continued Maryland Register of Historic Sites and Landmarks 1970 State Maryland Historical Trust 2525 River Road Annapolis , Maryland 21401 Code : 24 .. #7 . DESCRIPTION continued ., classic al motifs . The names of the three American officers and 36 enl isted men who died in the battles are written in bronze letters on the fillets and on the upper broad band . On top of the column is a statue of a female classical figure of Victory, facing south, representing the city of Baltimore h paying homage to her defenders. On her left side is a cannon ~i ball and an antique rudder , a symbol of navigation and stability; in her right hand is a bronze laurel wreath, a symbol of glory. Beside the figure is an eagle , representing the United States. Today the monument is dwarfed by tall buildings on all sides, but is somewhat protected from traffic by a small park built to enclose it in 1964 . In 1972 a statue of a Black Soldier was placed at the northern end of the park in memory of black involvement in all major wars of the United States. #8. SIGNIFICANCE continued the surrounding area was called Monument Square in the mid nineteen th century and was frequently the scene of public assemblies . #9. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFEREN CES c ontinued Howland , Richard Hubbard and Spencer, Eleanor Patterson. The Architecture of Baltimore - A Pictorial History. Baltimor The Johns Hopkins University Press , 1953. Pp. 39-43 . 1. J•. · I ' .. ' J O ' ' 10000 FEET I 362 35' )P.d b} c Army Map Service d and published by the Geological Su rvey : ,,.. -?.3 __££ --=c=_ F.:'.! z;t_.__ J ••. --_'{ -· - .... * J(J(J() ; ol by USGS. USC&GS, USCE,and City of Baltimore 1000 0 GN r:;-cr1::r .:c -:-:· ~= 1 .~.·::::::.:; I \raphy trom aerial photographs by photo~rammetric "> 1··. 1 r. 1 .•.l -1. :.:u; ods. Aerial photographs talo.en 1943. ricld checked 1944 8' B-14 Form 10-JOJ UNI STATES D EPARTMENT OF THE JNTE R JOI~ S 1 A rE (July 1969) NATIONAL P AR K SE RVI CE Maryl and COU N TY NATIONAL REGI STER OF HISTORIC PLACES Baltimore City PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUM B~- 1 D A ·.;-.:- (Type a ll entries - ._111 od1 to or cnclo-' 1- [2. LOCATION S T REET AN O NUMBER: u Center of Calvert Street (between Fayette and Lexington Sts . ) Cl TY OR TOWN: Baltimore STA T E: I CODE I COUN T Y: I CODE Maryland I 24 I Baltimore City 1510 z 13. MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: U.S.G. S . 7.5 minute map Baltimore East Quadrangle (Maryland) w SCALE: 1 . ?£1.()()() w DATE: 1qc;1 Phr>t-orPvi ~ .,, ;i lqhh 14. REQl.,Jl~EME NT S TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL. MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. No rth arrow. 3. lati tude a nd longitude refe rence. I • (.,. .J I ti:- •• 11'.1 I \ '· 'j .I., I QJ 1A:------·------_ --- n. u "'"lii?filiR ll•TiFU:i IF • I' UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF fHE INTERIO R STA TC .. " NATIONAL PARK SI RVI CE Ma1:_¥._1_~~9.: _____ • REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES B~ ~-timore .. ci 1:. Y______, PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY t.:NTRY NUMBER C. A TC (Type all entries - attach to or enc lose with photogr.'1pli) % I. NAME 0 COMMON· The Battle Monument ANO OR HISTORIC: 2. LOCATION . STREET ANO NUMBER. Center of Calvert Street (between Fayette and Lexington St~ -CITY------OR TOWN : ------·--·-----·-·------I Baltimore I 5 0 0 T~~ E~ y land ~~~·-c-'-c-o_u_N_~_va_,_l_t imo r_e_C_i_t...:y,______..l'"""""~'- 1""..::;f--i .z 3. f)HOTO REfERENCJ;_ -'-·~--_,.·-: ,~...:..--· ·-······-· ------PHoTo cRe:o1,., Gret~he~---~eq_ger.!.------·---- o A TE o F' P H o To, Ma.""r"""c=h"--'1=9--'7-'l=------w e: GA r1v E F'lt.Eo AT: Commission for Historical and Architectural w Preservation , 402 Cit Hall , Baltimore Mar land 4. IDENTIFICA:.:.T..:..:10:..:.N.:..... --'------~------·------1 DESCR I BE VIEW, D IRECTION , ETC. The Battle Monument from the south ------BALTIMORE M3TROCZNT ER SURVEY SURVEY NO . : B-0014 AR E.ti. : Fina:lcial Distri ct MAGI NO . : 0400143332 Address : Middle of the 100 block of North Calvert Stre:.: t Cur rent Name : Battle Monument Block: Lot: Lot s i ze : Height: Materials : Ma rble Condition: Good Owner : Cit y of Baltimore Use: Mo nument Acces sible: Yes Designation: NR/BCL Liber /Folio: Historic Name : Battle Monument Dat e : 1815-1825 Architect /Builder: Maximill ian Godefroy; Antoni o Capellano , sculptor Style (if appropriate) : ·' Description: The fif ty-two foot high marbl e Battle Monument which is l ocated at t he southern edge of Monument Square f eatures an Egypti an base s urmounted by a shaft with Roman detailing, and it is capped by a statue . The monument stands on a m2rble platform surr ounded by a decorative iron railing . The base i s made up of ei ghteen l ayers of marble designed as an Egyptian tomb with blank openi ngs and winged d isc ornamentation . Four griffins are perch ed over the base. At the bott om of the shaft, which rises from the base, are two bas r eliefs of the Battle of North Point and the Bombardment of Fort McHenry . The s haft is made of vertical rods held t ogether by bands d i s pl aying the names of thirty-six soldiers t hat died in the def ense of Baltimore i n the War of 1812 . Engraved at the t op of the column ar e the names of the three off icers that died in the battl e . Above the column i s an eagle and bomb and a 12dy st?tue of Baltimore holding a wreath of Victor y . Two historical marker s are placed i n front of t he mo nument . One is from 1915 , t he an:iiversary of t he l ayi ng of t he cornerstonG a--;d the oth;-:ir is a r ecent al uminum marker with graphic·s . Signifi cance : Area: Architecture , Art, History Lev ::: l : Local The Bat t le Monument is second only to t he Washingto ~ Monument as the f i nest earl.Y monument i n Ba ltimore and one of the r easons Baltimore was called "the Mo nume:-it al City." It i s s i gni ficant f or its Egyptian Revi val Sources : Surveyor and Dat e : Fred B. Shaken, July 1985. Baltimore Financial District Survey • Battle Monument B-t4 Plate 26. [J\Inp N11111ber 13 ] [ 63 ] From: The Architecture of Bal timo·re, by Howland & Sperncer, p . 63. ~--::==::;__- -- Baltimore Financial District Survey Baltimore (City) , Maryland B-0014 Battle Monument 100 block North Ca l vert St~eet FROM 1815, 'vi to the Old I Monument Square, 7848 Square was &I.I. PlCT1'1Sa Olf .._ P&OU, military page: axcarr ... lfO'nD. r&OM TU IUJlTUl 20 B-14 Battle Monument BlockMiddle N/A of the Lot 1N/Aoo bl oc k of North Calvert Street Baltimore City Baltimore East Quad. E LEXINGTON ST ~· i c·-·-·_ ....,.-- ~ -·---..- ·- D z B- 0014 Battle Monument Middle of 100 bl ock of N. Calvert Street Financial District-Metrocenter Survey Baltimore (City), Maryland Photo: Fred Shoken Date: July 1985 Neg . lee. : Maryland Historical Trust View from the south