Interesting Places I've Photographed
Christopher Columbus (Christoforo Columbo)
a.k.a. The Springfield Italian-American War Memorial
Springfield, MA
Topic: Sculptures of Springfield
GPS: N42° 05.486; W072° 34.778
Quick Description:
A statue of Christopher Columbus at the Springfield Italian-American War
Memorial at Main and Locust Streets in the South End neighborhood of
Springfield.
Long Description:
Christopher Columbus was born about October 31, 1451 in the Republic of Genoa,
in northwestern Italy. He was an explorer and navigator whose voyages of
exploration were financed by the Monarchs of Spain. He made four voyages across
the Atlantic Ocean, the publicity from which led to an awareness by Europeans of
the existence of a New World. He established permanent settlements on the island
of Hispaniola and started the colonization process of the New World. He died in
Valladolid, Spain on May 20, 1506 at age 54.
At the center of the Springfield Italian-American War Memorial is a 5.5'
statue of Christopher Columbus standing on a 4.5' base. The statue is flanked by
two matching tablets containing the names of Italian-American residents of
Greater Springfield who served the United States in wartime. The monument is in
the center of a newly refurbished and landscaped traffic island in the South End
of Springfield, historically the Italian-American area of Springfield. The
statue was erected on October 12, 1963, Columbus Day, and rededicated in 1986 on
the 350th anniversary of the founding of Springfield.
A granite statue of Christopher Columbus is wearing a tunic, a medallion
around his neck, and a fur lined coat is standing on an ornate pedestal. He is
holding a scroll in his lowered left hand and a sextant in his right hand which
is at waist level. He is standing in front of a capstan on a base inscribed with
his name:
CHRISTOFORO COLUMBO
The base has an ornate frieze depicting a central flower followed by leaves
and berries. On the front, below the frieze, is the insignia of the U.S.
Italian-American War Veterans and the inscription:
US ITALIAN AMERICAN WAR VETERANS
DEDICATED OCT.12,
1963
BY
JOSEPH C. CICCARELLI
POST 59
AND
UNITED ITALIAN
AMERICAN
SOCIETIES AND CLUBS
OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
On a tablet below the memorial is the inscription:
1636 {Image of the Springfield Municipal Group} 1986
THE CITY OF
SPRINGFIELD IS PROUD
AND HONORED TO REDEDICATE THE STATUE
OF CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS, A TRUE SYMBOL
OF THE PRIDE AND DEDICATION OF
SPRINGFIELD'S
ITALIAN-AMERICANS PAST AND PRESENT
DURING THIS 350TH
ANNIVERSARY OF OUR
GREAT CITY
RICHARD E. NEAL
MAYOR
The left tablet contains a three column list of 42 names. The right tablet
contains a three column list of 36 names.
