The Plaza is the central attraction in downtown Santa Fe, and in its center is a tall Obelisk with an interesting history. To see a photo of the Obelisk, click here. According to the Nile Guide, a travel website with interesting facts about Santa Fe,
The obelisk in the center of the Plaza is called the Indian War Memorial Monument, and was erected in the 1860s to honor Federal troops killed in battles with Native Americans and Confederate forces. The inscription originally made reference to "savage Indians," but sometime in the 1970s a man dressed in a suit chiseled the word "savage" from the marble inscription. There are also pockmarks left by bullets in the monument. [I wonder why "dressed in a suit" is important in this explanation?]
Another website claims that the obelisk had been erected in honor of the men who fought in the Civil War and is called the Civil War Memorial.
I wonder if the Native American community should request a memorial to their ancestors who perished giving their lives for what was a noble and just cause.
ReplyDeletei guess the description of the man being in the suit was to convey that the editing of the inscription was done thoughtfully, not be a random act if vandalism
Perhaps he was a real gentleman to both dress in a suit and chisel out the unkind word.
ReplyDeleteAmazing there hasn't been a lot of unrest about this monument, given present sensitivities.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I guess the victorious get to erect the memorials.
ReplyDeleteSo many mysteries when you look back in history! Very interesting, Kate :D
ReplyDeleteI hope there is another memorial to the Native Americans who died trying to protect their way of life.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post Kat and I've enjoyed reading the comments.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting that the dominant culture gets to define the terms of history? And, how our view of acceptable terminology changes?
ReplyDeletefascinating history...this interesting post makes me question things.
ReplyDeleteI have read somewhere a quote to the effect that no one erects monuments to the losers. (Except at the Alamo, I suppose.) This monument has an interesting history.
ReplyDeleteNice memorial.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information. I was very intrigued and wondering what has been 'erased'.
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