Hartford commissioned the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch to recognize the 4,000 Hartford residents who served in the Union Army from 1861-1865, including 400 who died during the war. It was designed by George Keller, who also designed the original home of Congregation Beth Israel, now the Charter Oak Cultural Center, in Hartford. The arch is built primarily of Connecticut brownstone. A terra cotta frieze circles it, depicting battle scenes on one side and the homecoming of the soldiers on the other. Each tower displays three statues reflecting the varied backgrounds of the city residents who fought in the Civil War. The angel statues on the top are Gabriel with two trumpets and Raphael with two cymbals, symbolizing resurrection and the afterlife in honor of those who died during the war.