This statue is located in front of the Main Branch of the Dayton Public Library. It is a nice statue that sits upon a pedestal and overlooks Cooper Park. The statue was dedicated in 1910 and is in great shape considering its age. They must do periodic maintenance on it. It does have the green tint to it like the Statue of Liberty that is caused by oxidation. The statue is standing on a stone pedestal high above the park.
The sculpture depicts President Mckinley wearing a suit and long overcoat, with his right hand resting on an American flag which is draped over banded arrows and is left arm raised directly out in front of him, as if he is hailing. McKinley was an Ohio native and eventually became the Governor of the state and 25th president of the United States. He also served as an Ohio representative in Congress and a soldier in the Union Army.
The bronze plaque on the pedestal reads as follows:
To The Memory of William McKinley
born Jan. 29th, 1843
died Sept. 14th, 1901
soldier in the Army of the Union
representative in Congress
Governor of Ohio
President of the United States
statesman, patriot, martyr
a Christian gentleman
whose sublime faith in his last moments
was a crowning glory of a virtuous life
this monument is a tribute by the
Citizens of Dayton
and the Children of its Schools
"Nearer My God to Thee"
It is interesting to note that over 11,000 local school children donated the $4,000 needed to build the statue.
Metered street parking is available on the streets suroounding the park that the statue is located. The parking is free after 6PM and on weekends.
This is a nice piece of Dayton history and a nice spot to visit. However, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I would start with Cooper Park, which it is located in, the Military Memorial or RiverScape MetroPark to make a half to full day of your excursion. read more