Video
Admiral Farragut Monument
Transcript
The bottom right side of Admiral Farragut’s naval overcoat appears to have blown open by the wind. A sword rests in its sheath at his hip. His left hand holds a pair of binoculars near the center of his body. His right arm falls straight against his side, with his elbow only slightly bent and his fingers forming a loose fist. His feet are spread wide as if to gain stability on the deck of a ship. The tip of his right foot hangs over the edge of the six-inch teared bronze platform atop the central pedestal.
His brows are slightly burrowed creating vertical wrinkles above his nose as he gazes forward. He wears a tight military cap with an eagle insignia on the front. The tops of his ears are covered by patches of hair emerging from under the hat’s brim.
The pedestal is carved from Blue Stone. It is a greyish color with a slight blue tint. A rippling design is carved in the central pedestal below Admiral Farragut’s feet, and the words “David” and “Farragut.” The stone has mostly deteriorated around what originally read “Glasgow.” An upward sword, carved on the right, completes the central pedestal.
A seated woman with a long, flowing dress rests their back against the central pedestal along both wings. Their stoic faces turn and stare at us. The woman on the right has bare shoulders, loose armor across her chest, and outstretched arms atop her knees. She represents Courage. The woman on the left has fabric draped over her left shoulder exposing her right breast. Her right arm extends straight away from her body while her left arm bends slightly more than ninety degrees at the elbow. The left lower arm is parallel to the right arm. This allegorical figure represents Loyalty.
Carved ornamental fish form the ends of the curved architectural wings. The creatures’ tails arch above their open mouths and form a curved edge inward. They are parallel to the front face of the central pedestal. Ripples surround the fish evoking waves in the ocean.
Text engraved on the left wing states: “THAT THE MEMORY OF A DARING AND SAGACIOUS COMMANDER AND GENTLE GREAT-SOULED MAN WHOSE LIFE FROM CHILDHOOD WAS GIVEN TO HIS COUNTRY BUT WHO SERVED HER SUPREMELY IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION 1860 -1865 MAY BE PRESERVED AND HONORED AND THAT THEY WHO COME AFTER HIM AND WHO WILL OWE HIM SO MUCH MAY SEE HIM AS HE WAS SEEN BY FRIEND AND FOE HIS COUNTRYMEN HAVE SET UP THIS MONUMENT AD 1881.” Text engraved on the right wing states: “BORN NEAR KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE JULY 5 1801 MID-SHIPMAN 1810 BATTLE OF ESSEX AND PHOEBE MARCH 28 1814 LIEUTENANT 1825 COMMANDER 1841 CAPTAIN 1855 BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS APRIL 25 1862 REAR ADMIRAL 1862 BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY AUGUST 5 1864 VICE ADMIRAL DECEMBER 23 1864 FIRST ADMIRAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JULY 26 1866 DIED AT PORTSMOUTH NEW HAMPSHIRE AUGUST 14 1870.” The lettering is elaborate but has deteriorated in some places.
Description
A detailed audio description of the Farragut Monument by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, located on the grounds of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.
Duration
3 minutes, 17 seconds
Credit
NPS
Date Created
06/30/2026
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