NYC Parks and the nonprofit Prospect Park Alliance held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the restoration of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza.
Through $8.9 million in city funding, the Alliance restored the arch and the surrounding plaza and landscaped berms. It is the first significant restoration of the iconic Brooklyn monument in nearly 50 years, officials said.
"...this Brooklyn icon has gotten a major facelift, restoring the beautiful statuary and artwork to its original glory," NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa sid in a statement. "By caring for the monuments, statues, and artworks that enhance our public spaces, we’re not just preserving our history – we are communicating to New Yorkers that they deserve the best from their public realm.
The restoration included replacing the roof and reinforcing the historic structure, as well as repointing the granite stonework to remove years of build-up, staining and spalling; repairing interior elements, including decorative bronze and cast-iron spiral staircases and entrance gates; and designing new, energy-efficient lighting to better showcase the historic elements of the arch and its statuary.
In addition, the NYC Parks Citywide Monuments Conservation Program cleaned and restored the Arch's monumental statuary. The project recently received a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the Landmarks Conservancy, its highest honor for excellence in preservation.
"The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza is a Brooklyn icon and now once again a shining jewel of the borough," said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President and Park Administrator.
Famed architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed Grand Army Plaza as the grand entrance to Prospect Park in 1867. In 1892, the plaza became the site of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch, dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives defending the Union during the Civil War.
The arch was designed by American architect John H. Duncan, who also designed Grant's Tomb. At the time it was considered Brooklyn's Arc de Triomphe, one of the most famous monuments in Paris.
The arch is adorned with three bronze statuary ensembles by the Brooklyn-born Beaux Arts sculptor Frederick William MacMonnies, who was also a highly accomplished painter and portraitist. The arch also includes statuary by artists Philip Martiny and William Rudolf O'Donovan, as well as equestrian bas-reliefs by famed American artist Thomas Eakins. It is one of New York City's three major triumphal arches.
"While triumphal arches typically recognize great military victories and generals, this arch is dedicated to the rank and file, honoring the young men of Brooklyn who lost their lives defending the union in the Civil War," Monaco said. "This makes the arch a true monument of the people, welcoming all into Prospect Park and signifying that this is a place where all in our community are celebrated and seen."
To restore the arch, the Alliance's in-house architects conducted significant research to uncover the historic design. Original blueprints were lost to time, requiring a detailed scan of the inner structure using radar and magnetic investigation.
After laboratory testing, the team determined the composition of the stonework mortar, Rosendale cement from the namesake town in upstate New York, and utilized this in the restoration. In addition, cracked and broken stonework were replaced to match the existing stone from a quarry near the original source in Maine. On the interior, bronze and cast-iron spiral staircases and entrance gates were disassembled for restoration: original elements were cleaned, missing elements recreated, and then the renewed piece was reassembled on site.
The landscaped berms that frame the plaza on its east, west and north sides were also restored. This work included removing invasive plants, trees and shrubs; and planting 194 native trees, as well as new plants and shrubs that provide interest and color throughout the seasons.
In addition, a chain link fence was replaced with low, decorative steel fencing. At the plaza, broken bluestone and granite paving around Bailey Fountain and the John F. Kennedy Memorial were fixed, and an ADA-accessible curb cut at the north entrance to the plaza was added.
NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers will be holding special tours of the arch on Saturday, June 28. Register for the lottery here.
