I visited one of America’s major Civil War sites. Grand Army Plaza’s triumphal arch was almost completely covered with plastic coverings and a wooden fence blocked dozens of visitors trying to get to the familiar monumental structure. The arch has been there since 1892.
Frederick Law Olmstead, Stamford White, and Calvert Vaux designed the plaza. Thomas Eakins was among the outstanding sculptors who designed the art on the arch. William T. Sherman laid the cornerstone and Grover Cleveland unveiled it. Still, today, only the crowning sculpture on the top is visible.
As you can see in the photo below, visitors can hardly see the detailed work put in 130 years ago.
The hole in the arch still appears, but not what encloses it.
The Governor Warren statue across the street has similarly been put “under cover.”
As has the fountain at the rear of the plaza.
General Slocum on the other side of the street is not under cover, but he has new fencing in preparation for covering.
Luckily, the city has put up notices telling the visitors that the plaza is undergoing rehabilitation. I have been here many times in the last decade, and it was in pretty good shape. However, the city found that the roof of the arch had suffered severe damage that was undermining this mighty structure. Here is how it looked just a few months ago.
Here is my Photo Tour of the Grand Army Plaza.
The last time a major restoration of Grand Army Plaza was completed was in 1979. The city has allocated $9 million dollars for the restoration for the arch and other parts of the plaza. Work on the landscaping of the plaza began in 2022 and the arch will be unveiled in 2024.
There are many construction workers there now.
“The beloved Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza is a Brooklyn icon and an important gathering space for dialogue and protests that advance social justice. We are so grateful to the Mayor’s Office for providing the funding to make this project possible,” Morgan Monaco, president of the Prospect Park Alliance said.
As you can see, construction is taking place on the approaches to the plaza too.
The area with the monument to JFK and the fountain are also undergoing work.
Here is my parting shot as I was leaving. It is a hopeful scene.
