James A. Garfield Monument

Commissioned by the Fairmount Park Art Association following the president’s assassination, the memorial proved an unusual challenge: Garfield’s short term offered little colorful material, nor an outstanding record as a soldier, congressman, or teacher. Committee sketches originally envisioned a standard standing figure on a pedestal, but the design favored integrating the bronze into its natural environment along what is now Kelly Drive. The 1895 unveiling was accompanied by parades, a flotilla, and naval and military ceremonies.