Thursday, November 6, 2008



I took this photo Tuesday near my polling place. I had voted the week before but went looking for an election day photo op.. wanted long lines, interesting people occupying the time, perhaps some sitting in chairs or reading books. No lines, just signs stuck into the ground all around the front of the building and around the corner. On the corner is our odd Monument of the States. It's a strange thing that was here when I moved here 22 years ago. I don't think anything has been added in that time. It consists of stones and things set into the towering giant state by state. I think they are all represented here along with other places.

This is in many tourist books and I've had visiting friends ask to see it. The street is Monument Avenue and the street markers were all little mini posts in the shape of the monument.

Having it surrounded by political signs on Election Day just seems appropriate.

From the plaque in front of the monument:
Dedicated by U.S. Senator Claude Pepper in 1943, the 40 foot high Monument of States was designed by Dr. C.W. Bressler-Pettis. Built from stones furnished by tourists, governors, a prime minister and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the monument contains 1500 stones collected for 22 years, including meteors, stalagmites, petrified wood, teeth and bone, and represents every state in the US and 20 foreign countries.
Dr. Bressler-Pettis oversaw the design of each stage of construction and was the sculptor of the 562-pound concrete bald eagle that perches on the peak of the monument.

2 comments:

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi Karen,
How amazing with all the signs around it! I got tired of the campaign, I admit. But when I think about it - all our stumping and shouting and campaigning - it's a privilege. I feel like our system still works.

Hilda said...

The monument is a bit strange, but I like the sentiments behind it. It's also appropriate now because Obama is going to need all the support he can get from everyone. It won't be easy, but I'm glad it's him.