PARK AND CEMETERY, 
1 29 
THE PETER COOPER MEMORIAL, NEW YORK CITY, 
Just south of the Cooper Institute, New York, 
there stands at last a memorial to the man who 
erected the Institution, which bears his name, for 
the benefit of his fellow man, and who stands as a 
model of wise philanthropy wherever the English 
language is known. 
This is not too broad an assertion, for the vast 
number of young people 
who have derived benefit 
from the Cooper Institute, 
and have promulgated a 
knowledge of its useful- 
ness as a measure of grati- 
tude, have come from all 
quarters and gone to all 
quarters, to establish the 
truth of the statement 
by the pursuit of useful 
lives, whose impetus ob- 
tained force under the 
careful training imparted 
at Peter Cooper’s helpful 
school. 
It is no wonder it was 
generally remarked that 
at the unveiling ceremon- 
ies attending the dedica- 
tion of the beautiful 
monument, so much vol- 
untary service was forth- 
coming to make the ser- 
vices impressive. And no 
wonder that it was further 
remarked that this was 
due to the grateful senti- 
ment still pervading the 
community for the great 
benefaction that the phil- 
anthropist had bestowed 
upon the generations to 
follow him. 
After all notwith- 
standing the artistic merit 
of the monument erected 
to his memory, the endur- 
i ng memorial is the Coop 
er Institute, for it not- 
only stands as a constant reminder of the great 
hearted man, but it was a labor of love of his life, 
put into active operation under his wise guidance 
and supervision, and he lived to see the promises of 
its great usefulness fulfilled before he departed, full 
ot years and honor. When he died in 1883 he was 
in his ninetieth year. 
The classic memorial herewith illustrated was 
unveiled on May 29 last, with simple but impres- 
sive ceremonies. 
The base of the monument, which is 22 feet by 
24 feet by 4 feet high, is of Milford pink granite 
with cut faces, and the shafts of the columns are 
also of polished pink Milford granite. 
The pedestal, the back, bases and capitals of 
columns, and the entablatures are of Knoxville 
pink marble, hone finished. 
The bronze statue, which was modelled by St. 
Gaudens, is set upon a pedestal standing 6 feet 
above the base, upon which the bronze inscriptions 
are affixed. The entire height of the monument is 
25 feet from the ground. The architectural acces- 
sories of the memorial were designed by Mr. White 
of McKim, Mead & White, architects. 
