Wyoming Monument
Also known as: Battle of Wyoming Monument
Why it's listed
Wyoming Borough in Luzerne County holds an Egyptian Revival obelisk of dark gray Wyoming Valley cut stone, built between 1833 and 1843 over the common grave of about eighty-three patriots killed at the Battle of Wyoming on July 3, 1778. The pedestal carries marble plaques listing the slain and survivors, and a bronze door leads to a vault beneath. The obelisk rises to sixty-two feet six inches and is enclosed by an iron fence. The Wyoming Valley women's association raised funds to finish the monument, and the grounds were graded and planted by 1864. Annual ceremonies have been held at the site since 1882, drawing large crowds; the 1878 centennial visit by President Rutherford B. Hayes and a 1905 visit by Theodore Roosevelt are among the notable events. The nomination regards the monument as an early example of Revolutionary War commemoration and as one of roughly two dozen American obelisks of its type built between 1792 and 1860.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the monument is significant for its role in commemorating the Battle of Wyoming and the Revolutionary War patriots slain there, and as an Egyptian Revival obelisk built as a grave marker. It also cites continuous commemorative ceremonies at the site from the 1830s onward, attended by two U.S. presidents, as giving it significance in its own right.
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 02000509, listed May 13, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | US 11, Wyoming Ave. and Susquehanna St., Wyoming Borough |
|---|---|
| County | Luzerne County |
| Listed | May 13, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000509 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1833-1952 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th century; Exotic Revival; Egyptian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The monument is described as in good structural condition, with the Wyoming Monument Association holding title and maintaining it. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.30374, -75.84558 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 02000509.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8040364
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.