The
Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a
neoclassical monument built on
Monument Circle, a circular, brick-paved street that intersects Meridian and Market streets in the center of
downtown Indianapolis,
Indiana. The monument is the first in the United States to be dedicated to the common soldier. It is also the largest outdoor memorial and the largest of its kind in Indiana. It was designed by German architect
Bruno Schmitz and built over a thirteen-year period, between 1888 and 1901. The monument's original purpose was to honor
Hoosiers who were veterans of the
American Civil War; however, it is also a tribute to Indiana's soldiers who served during the
American Revolutionary War, territorial conflicts that partially led to the
War of 1812, the
Mexican–American War, and the
Spanish–American War. In the years since its public dedication on May 15, 1902, the monument has become an iconic symbol of Indianapolis, the
state capital of Indiana. It was added to the
National Register of Historic Places on February 13, 1973.