The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Monument 
visitors above this 
level. I'he floor is 
made of mosaic 
pane 1 s in marble 
bands, and the dome 
is of mosaic with 
marble ribs. The 
walls are of white 
marble forming a 
simple composition 
of pilasters and en¬ 
tablature above the 
niches and under 
the dome. 
The dedication of 
the Monument by 
the City to her Sol¬ 
diers and Sailors who 
defended the Union 
is expressed by the 
inscription on the 
fr i e z e, and upon 
bronze tablets let 
into the wall and 
pavement. The 
names of the New York regiments actively 
engaged, and their commanders, are inscribed 
on the two large marble pylons of the south 
approach, where also the battles are recorded 
in historical sequence from Fort Sumter 
to Appomattox. 
After running northward in a straight line 
from 85th Street, Riverside Drive curves 
to the eastward near 89th Street and leaves 
a small triangular plateau between itself and 
the hillside descending to the river. On 
this space the Monument has been built. 
It has the advantage of centering on the 
southern axis of the drive for a straight 
distance of four blocks. On the north 
the ground falls away in a semi-circular 
valley with beautifully moulded slopes, caus¬ 
ing the Monument to appear, when viewed 
from the northwest, as if it stood on a prom¬ 
ontory and having the added dignity of the 
hillside ascending to the granite outer works 
and the approaches. 
The rather limited space remaining on 
the east and west has been taken as far as 
possible into the scheme of grading which leads 
up to the approaches. An important duty 
of the approaches 
themselves is to 
supply the means of 
centering, if not the 
monument, some 
portion of it upon 
the axis of 89th 
Street. That thor¬ 
oughfare, as it meets 
the drive, is now 
marked by two large 
and distinguished 
residences, Mrs. 
Bishop Potter’s on 
the northern and 
Mr. Rice’s on the 
southern corner. 
These give a sem¬ 
blance of balance 
to the view along 
the street which is 
closed by the 
architectural ac¬ 
cessories attached 
to the southern side 
of the Monument. A spacious platform is 
here placed several feet above the ground; and 
near its western end, between curving stair¬ 
ways which lead to walks below on the 
hillside, rises a lofty flagpole. That it is 
this pole and not the Monument displays 
the weakness of the site when viewed from 
the east, but from the south as far down 
as 85th Street the Monument terminates 
the vista of the drive very satisfactorily. 
Viewed from this point the white silhouette 
rises through and above the trees which in 
reality give a beautiful effect although ren¬ 
dering it difficult to photograph the Monu¬ 
ment itself. Indeed all the trees near by 
have been left undisturbed as far as possible, 
nor has any planting yet been done. It is 
proposed to limit this to low-growing trees 
and shrubs, placed closelv around the walls 
and steps so as to conceal the ground-line 
and to draw the rigid cut stonework into a 
harmony with the natural aspect of the 
Park. An elaborate scheme of ornamental 
gardening has been designed by the archi¬ 
tects, which will probably be executed during 
the present year. 
VIEW FROM THE SUMMIT OF THE MONUMENT 
36 
