Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum

About Us:

Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum recognized as one of the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museumworld's outstanding monuments, the structure has come to symbolize both the City of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. The Limestone used for the monument is gray oolitic limestone from the Romona quarries of Owen County. It stands 284 feet, 6 inches high, only 15 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty. It cost $598,318 in 1902. It has been estimated that building a similar structure today would cost more than five hundred million dollars.

The commission for the monument construction requested architects to submit design proposals. Of the seventy proposals turned in, two finalists were chosen. Then from the two, Bruno Schmitz of Berlin, Prussia (Germany) received the appointment.There are a number of art works either built into the Monument, or placed throughout the grounds. Bruno Schmitz brought with him Rudolf Schwarz. Schwarz was sculptor for the statuary groups "War" and "Peace", "The Dying Soldier", "The Homefront" and the four statues at the corners of the Monument that represents the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, and Navy.