The E. M. Viquesney "Spirit of the American Doughboy" Database
1913: THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT
WICHITA, KANSAS
Long before Viquesney became famous for his "Spirit of the American Doughboy", he was already well-known as a sculptor, having designed many Civil War memorials and monuments. One of these is the vault structure that stands in front of Sedgwick County Courthouse, Wichita, Kansas. Plans began in 1911, and the monument was dedicated June 14, 1913. The design and plans for the monument were drawn by Viquesney. The contract for the monument was awarded to Woodbury Granite Company of Hardwick, Vermont. The four lower statues, representing Union soldiers and sailors, were designed and cast by Frederick C. Hibbard of Chicago, Illinois, and the large statue on top, representing Peace, was provided by W. H. Mullins of Salem, Ohio. The foundation was built under separate contract by J. W. Burton.
Originally the vault housed a small military museum display behind the front doors, but problems with dampness forced Grand Army of the Republic officials to move the collection of paper records and relics to the new Carnegie Library in 1915.
The monument was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 (the Register application form erroneously lists the architect's name as Ernest "Monroe" Viquesney instead of his correct middle name, Moore).
Originally the vault housed a small military museum display behind the front doors, but problems with dampness forced Grand Army of the Republic officials to move the collection of paper records and relics to the new Carnegie Library in 1915.
The monument was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 (the Register application form erroneously lists the architect's name as Ernest "Monroe" Viquesney instead of his correct middle name, Moore).
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The design seems to be similar to another Viquesney Civil War monument called The Blue and Gray Memorial in Fitzgerald, Georgia. I can't find any photos of it on the Internet. The record at left is from a Google search. The monument is also referenced in the Americus, Georgia newspaper chronology, February 26, 1914.
