The Soldiers and Sailors Monument stands in Penn Square, where King and Queen Streets meet in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Civil War memorial is a compact downtown stop, with military figures and inscriptions that connect the site to both the war and Lancaster’s earlier history.
- The central granite pillar is about 43 feet high.
- Four military figures stand around the lower section.
- The National Park Service includes it in the National Register of Historic Places.
Where the monument stands
Penn Square puts the monument at the meeting point of two downtown streets, with the surrounding city centre close at hand. LancasterHistory says pedestrians can view it closely from the brick pedestrian plaza beside the Fulton Bank building.
From Dutch Wonderland Inn, Lancaster city centre is about a 15-minute drive. Once downtown, the square’s central position makes it straightforward to include the monument while walking among nearby streets and destinations.
What the monument commemorates
The monument honors Lancaster County residents who died in the Civil War while defending the Union. Its origins date to 1867, when a meeting of the Soldiers and Sailors Union led to the election of the Lancaster County Monument Association. The monument was commissioned on November 4, 1872, and dedicated on July 4, 1874.
Designer Lewis Haldy created the monument, fabricated by Messrs. Batterson, Canfield, & Company. Around its lower section stand a Union cavalry officer, an infantryman, an artilleryman and a Navy sailor, each on a separate base. The pillar bears the names of Civil War battlefields.
The north-side inscription remembers citizens who fell defending the Union in the War of the Rebellion, 1861–1865. It also notes that the Continental Congress met in the courthouse on this spot on September 27, 1777. Funding included $3,500 raised by the Patriot Daughters of Lancaster, alongside county military taxes; the total cost was $26,000.
A granite wall enclosure and iron fence followed in 1877. Later additions and changes included a tablet with Abraham Lincoln’s likeness and the Gettysburg Address in 1931, then a traffic redesign in 1972 that reduced the base area, removed the railing and added granite curbing and lighting. The National Park Service record gives the monument’s National Register reference number as 73001635.
Visiting the public space
The brick pedestrian plaza beside the Fulton Bank building is the place LancasterHistory identifies for a close view. Take time to look around the lower figures and the monument’s inscriptions; the site’s details tell more than the central pillar alone.
Opening hours
- Tuesday to Thursday: 9 AM–3 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 9 AM–4 PM
- Monday and Sunday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
The monument is administered by the City of Lancaster Parks Department, at 120 North Duke Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603. It sits in an active downtown setting, so follow any posted directions or restrictions when you arrive.
How can you check the monument’s hours and access?
Posted hours and access arrangements are not established, so don’t assume the monument is accessible at all times. Before setting out, check the official site of the City of Lancaster Parks Department for current access restrictions or maintenance notices.
What else can you pair with a downtown stop?
Make the monument one stop on a walk through Lancaster’s historic centre. Discover Lancaster identifies the Lancaster City Welcome Center inside Old City Hall, a building constructed in the late 1790s, as a visitor resource. Downtown attractions also include Fulton Theatre, Prima Theatre and the Ware Center for the Arts.
The Lancaster Convention Center has its own arrival and parking considerations; its getting-there and parking guide can help you plan for that venue.
FAQs
When was the Soldiers and Sailors Monument dedicated?
It was dedicated on July 4, 1874, after being commissioned in 1872.
What is the monument made of?
Its central pillar is made of Westerly, or Rhode Island, granite.
Are there posted hours for the monument?
Open Tuesday to Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday. Posted hours are not established. Check the City of Lancaster Parks Department’s official site before you go for current access information.