Cuyahoga County 

Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument

Welcome to Cuyahoga County's Civil War Monument

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument commemorates the American Civil War; it consists of a 125' column surrounded at its base by a Memorial Room and esplanade. The column, topped with a statue of the Goddess of Freedom, defended by the Shield of Liberty, signifies the essence of the Nation for which Cuyahoga County veterans were willing to and did give their lives. Four bronze groupings on the esplanade depict, in battle scenes, the Navy, Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry.

Inside the Memorial Room are four bronze relief sculptures:  Women's Soldiers' and Sailors' Aid Society,  Beginning of the War in Ohio, Emancipation of the Slaves and End of the War at City Point, Va., as well as busts of Gen. James Barnett and Architect/ Sculptor Levi T. Scofield, together with 6 officers, who were either killed in action,  or died of disease or their wounds.

The Cuyahoga County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument Celebrates “Leadership in Times of Crisis”

In October, Cleveland will welcome prestigious guests to the Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument for two unique public engagements. Dr. Curt Fields, nationally renowned General Ulysses S. Grant historian and impersonator, and Thomas Modly, Cleveland native and former Under and Acting Secretary of the Navy, are set to make appearances the week of October 9.

October 9 - Meet General U.S. Grant as Portrayed by Dr. Curt Fields

On October 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Dr. Fields, taking on the persona of General Grant, will tour the Monument and pose for photos in a meet and greet event open to the public. This appearance is in advance of three first-person presentations by General Grant (Dr. Fields) at three Cleveland-area Civil War Roundtables taking place October 9 through October 11 (see below for details). The presentations will cover Grant’s thoughts and experiences during three major campaigns as taken from his personal memoirs and other writings and brought to life by Dr. Fields. Each presentation is unique and presented in chronological order of actual events as they occurred during the Civil War.

October 13 - Fmr. Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly Book Signing

On October 13, the Monument celebrates the Navy’s 248th birthday by welcoming former Under and Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly. Modly, returning to his hometown of Cleveland for the Navy’s birthday festivities, will also be in support of his recent book, Vectors: Heroes, Villains and Heartbreak on the Bridge of the U.S. Navy. Modly will speak at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument at 3:00 p.m. with a book signing to follow. As part of the engagement, Modly will be in conversation with Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument Commission President and Navy veteran, Ted Prasse. The two will discuss Modly’s path to leadership, the sacrifices of service and how those experience shaped the way he was able to adapt to crisis.

Both national leaders hailing from Ohio, Grant and Modly were thrust into worlds in crisis, and when the call was made, they chose to leave civilian life for one of service to the country. Highlighting the sacrifices and remembering those who served is part of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers’ and Sailors' Monument’s mission. The Monument invites the public to join the conversation and participate in the “Leadership in Times of Crisis” programming.

Join Three Cleveland Area Civil War Roundtables Hosting General Grant - Expand for Details

Night 1 – “Getting into the War through Fort Donelson”

Night 2 – “One More Big Fight – Shiloh”

Night 3 – “Vicksburg”


Notice of Executive Committee Meeting

Monday, October 9, 2023

1:00 pm

The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument Commission Executive Committee will meet on Monday, October 9, 2023 at 1:00pm at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, 3 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio, 44114 | (216) 443-6878.

For the Commission,

Greg Palumbo

Executive Director

Notice of Commission Meeting

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

6:00PM

The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument Commission will meet on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 6:00pm in the Monument located at 3 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio | 216-443-6878.

For the Commission

Greg Palumbo

Executive Director

Check Out Our Podcast

Featuring a Discussion of Ohio's Three Wartime Governors With The Honorable William F. B. Vodrey

In this installment of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Podcast Executive Director Greg Palumbo has a conversation with the Honorable William F. B. Vodrey, former President and longtime member of the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable. They discuss the Ohio wartime Governors honored in the Monument statuary. They discuss the rise and fall of these three men, Dennison, Tod, and Brough, and their contributions to the ultimate victory of the Union during the Civil War. 

Dedication of the Daniel R Fields Family Monument in Erie Street Cemetery

On June 16, 2023 the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument was honored to have the family of Daniel R Fields attend the dedication of a monument to the Fields Family buried in Erie Street Cemetery. Dan Fields was a Caretaker at the Monument who had served as the model for one of our most prominent statuary panels and worked on the Monument during the construction. He was, however, from Louisiana, a slave State until the end of the Civil War. Dan would have been between 12 and 16 years old when the war ended, based on different sources, which means there was a chance he himself had been enslaved. Dan's story is told daily in the Monument and serves to connect visitors to the Civil War. 

Many thanks to our officiant Dr. Burris of First Baptist of Greater Cleveland, the congregation to which the Fields Family belonged. 

Thank you to Milano Monuments for their efforts to repurpose stone remaning from the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Court of Honor which was left over after the redesign of Public Square. Without their generosity this project would not have been possible.

Traditional Memorial Day Ceremony

Date: May 30, 2023

Time: 11:00 am - Noon

Location: Northwest Steps of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at 3 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44114

Open Internship Opportunities

The Cuyahoga County Monument Commission is happy to announce two seasonal winter paid-internship opportunities.  

Summer Internships for 2024

Click Here for more information on author Lauren Pacini's book Honoring Their Memory: Levi Scofield, Cleveland's Monumental Architect and Sculptor


New Day Cleveland Downtown Road Trip

Thank you to Fox8's David Moss and New Day Cleveland for stopping by the Monument on their Downtown Road Trip. Watch the segment on YouTube where the Moss-man talks with Executive Director Greg Palumbo about our Cleveland treasure.