The American Volunteer (statue)
| The American Volunteer | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Soldier Monument, Private Soldier Monument | |
 |
|
| Artist |
Carl Conrads, sculptor George Keller, architect |
| Year | completion 1876 dedication 1880 |
| Type | Granite |
| Dimensions |
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| Location |
Antietam National Cemetery Sharpsburg, Maryland United States |
| 39°27′33″N 77°44′28″W / 39.45917°N 77.74111°WCoordinates: 39°27′33″N 77°44′28″W / 39.45917°N 77.74111°W | |
| Owner | National Park Service |
The American Volunteer – also known as The American Soldier – is a colossal granite statue that crowns the U.S. Soldier Monument and forms the centerpiece of Antietam National Cemetery in Sharpsburg, Maryland. The monument is also known as the Private Soldier Monument.
The monument was designed by sculptor Carl Conrads and architect George Keller of the New England Granite Works of Hartford, Connecticut. The statue, described as "the largest work of its kind in the country", was prominently exhibited at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was transported to Sharpsburg, installed atop the monument, and dedicated at the National Cemetery in 1880. The total cost of the monument was over US$32,000. The statue's nickname is "Old Simon".
The monument's cornerstone was laid on September 17, 1867 – the fifth anniversary of the battle – as part of the dedication ceremonies for Antietam National Cemetery. President Andrew Johnson, the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, and members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives were in attendance, along with other dignitaries including General Grant, General McClellan, General Burnside, and Admiral Porter.
The night before, the Antietam National Cemetery Board approved the monument's design – a colossal U.S. soldier in overcoat, half-cape and kepi (cap) holding his rifle and standing at parade rest. "No record has come to hand of the design-selection process for Antietam. Whether the committee first stated what it wanted, and Batterson complied, or whether the architect, George Keller, and sculptor, Carl Conrads, of the Batterson firm originated a proposal is not known."
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