Welcome to Monument 101 … An introduction to the monuments at Gettysburg.

As the name suggests, this section of the website was written in order to help you understand the monuments and as an introduction to the vast and differing array of stone and bronze you will find in the Gettysburg National Military Park.

It’s been said Gettysburg boasts the world’s largest collection of outdoor sculpture. The monuments at Gettysburg range from the very simple to the truly sublime.

Monument 101 is divided into the following sections.

Background History of the Park & the Monuments

In two parts: How the National Park Came to Be and the Monument Placement Process.

You can also read a little bit about some of the important people who helped lay out the Park.

Understanding Civil War Military Organizations

This section is intended for those who don’t really know a lot about how a Civil War Army was organized. It includes the various Branches in the Armies, a brief overview of how to understand the order of battle and how a Civil War army was organized, and the Army of the Potomac Corps badge system.

Themes, Symbolism, and Identification

Here, you can learn about common themes and symbolism or you can learn about how to identify the War Department monuments on the battlefield.

More About the Monuments

Learn a little bit about a few of the famous sculptors who executed works at Gettysburg, learn a bit about the “mediums” the monuments are constructed of, or just view a really quick listing of the most popular monuments on the battlefield.