Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Also known as: National Monument
Why it's listed
Gothic-style granite monument in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, rising 43 feet from an 18-foot-square platform. Four six-foot statues at the corners represent the infantry, artillery, cavalry and navy, and a crowning eight-foot statue depicts the genius of liberty holding a sheathed sword. The shaft carries the names of eight battlefields in raised relief. Dedicated on July 4, 1874, to county war dead of the Civil War, it occupies the site of two successive county courthouses. Earlier events there included a 1744 meeting between colonial governors and Six Nations chiefs, Pennsylvania's first Revolutionary militia assembly in 1776, a dinner for President George Washington in 1791, and a visit by Lafayette in 1825. A granite base carries an inscription recording the 1777 meeting of the Continental Congress. The monument is valued for its historical associations with the site and for its well preserved sculpture, which dates from the early period of Civil War memorials.
Significance in brief: The monument marks a site used for national, colonial, state and local events over about 240 years, including the 1777 meeting of the Continental Congress in Lancaster. The nomination argues it is a well preserved example of mid-nineteenth-century sculpture and one of the earliest Civil War monuments. It is also described as a distinctive community landmark beyond its role as a war memorial.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001635, listed April 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Penn Sq., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | April 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001635 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Military, Exploration/Settlement, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The monument is in practically perfect condition and is described as unaltered and at its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lancaster City Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.03790, -76.30565 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001635.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1121083
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.