Vicksburg’s importance in the war and to those who fought there is reflected in hundreds of memorials that tell a story of sacrifice and dedication and celebrate reconciliation between former enemies. The Illinois State Memorial, dedicated in 1906, cost over $190,000, more than $4.6 million in today’s dollars. Many of the symbols used in these works were inspired by classic Greek styles. On the Illinois Memorial, the frieze below the eagle shows Clio, the Muse of History, flanked by maidens representing the North and the South. On the Missouri Memorial, the central bronze figure, “Spirit of the Republic,” holds an olive branch as an offering of peace.
