Donna Reiner, a local historian and a good friend of Get Your PHX, has written many articles over the years for the Arizona Republic and others about Phoenix history and memorials. We use her services when we list properties of historic significance to help us tell the stories behind the homes.
We are happy that Donna is allowing us to re-publish some of her articles on a monthly basis. If you or your business ever needs a historian, let Donna know at laydeescholar “at” hotmail.com.
The design and placement of memorials and monuments is fundamentally about choices – choices about what gets remembered, how it gets remembered, what stories are told, who is perceived as the primary audience, and whether the memorial’s story confirms existing beliefs about an event or person or challenges the public about what they think that they know.
Conflicts can arise when the monument or memorial contradicts public memory or is viewed as no longer relevant or appropriate. Indeed, is there more value in remembering a horrific event or a notable person? Ultimately, it becomes an issue of whether and/or how these edifices help people interact with the past and reinforce our vision of what it means to live in America.
Is there a difference between a monument and a memorial? A memorial may be a day or space, but it need not be a monument. A monument on the other hand is always a type of memorial. A memorial is often erected to honor those who have died including spontaneous memorials we see created in the immediate aftermath of tragedy and may only have a temporary life.
Few Phoenicians may be aware of the vast number of memorials and monuments found along Washington and Jefferson Streets from Central Avenue to 17th Avenue.
But they are there. And the style of these memorials and monuments varies from a simple plaque to a mammoth gun. Now that the weather is more ideal to be outdoors, it’s time for you to discover these little recognized places.
Start with the plaques from the former Patriots Square now on a wall in CityScape which are easy to miss. These are Arizona patriots. Head down Washington Street to the Historic City/County Building and look for the plaque dedicated to Jack Swilling on the fountain.
Cesar Chavez Plaza by the Calvin Goode Building and a time capsule on the south side of the Goode Building are next. Head to Phoenix City Hall and check out the plaza area or go to the Maricopa County Building to see the Pillars of Honor. Did you know about these?
Keep heading west until you reach the Pioneer and Military Cemetery on Jefferson. That has a number of gems besides the gravestones for some very interesting people.
When you reach Wesley Bolin Park and the capitol grounds across the street, you will have reached the greatest cluster of monuments and memorials in downtown Phoenix.
Over 25 in Wesley Bolin and four in front of the capitol. Each have a reason for its existence and all have a connection to our Arizona history: a person and/or event not forgotten.
