Anniversary Archive
"The Last Battlefield Monument in America?" by John Sower
Founder of the Friends of the Battle of Bladensburg, John Sower, has published a book upon the 10th Anniversary of the 200th Anniversary of the Dedication of the War of 1812 Battle of Bladensburg Monument on August 24, 2024. The book contains stories about the planning, funding, and construction of the Monument and is available for purchase. More from the synopsis:
In 1814, British forces defeated the Americans in Bladensburg, Maryland, marched into Washington, DC, and burned the US Capitol, White House, and other buildings.
For nearly years, the battlefield where Americans fought and died attempting to defend their capital was ignored and lost to history.
Finally, a local volunteer group led by a former Marine Captain and history enthusiast whose family business was near the site stepped up to the plate. They meticulously planned the design, raised funds, and built the Battle Monument in time for the 200th anniversary in 2014.
This book tells the dramatic, step-by-step story of planning and creating the Battle of Bladensburg Monument, the pitfalls and crises, and the people involved.
The first battlefield monument on American soil was built in 1799 for the 1775 Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington, Massachusetts.
The last battlefield monument on American soil was built in 2014 for the 1814 Battle of Bladensburg. Unlike other monuments, it uniquely contains narrative wording that explains the battle and vivid color images of the and actions.
These two monuments are bookends, with many monuments from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and other battles between them.
Photos from the 210th Anniversary
Bladensburg (2024)
Saturday, August 24, 2024
All below photos by the Town of Bladensburg
Photos from the 200th Anniversary
Riversdale (2012)
Riversdale Historic Mansion (2013)
Bostwick House (2014)
Hyattsville (2014)
Bladensburg Waterfront Park (2014)
Undaunted Monument
In 2010, a group of concerned citizens came together and began planning. They felt that as the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approached, there was a need for appropriate commemoration of the Battle of Bladensburg. They proposed a monument to serve as a tribute to the soldiers, sailors and marines who fought and died defending their Nation’s Capital on August 24, 1814. The memorial would present Commodore Joshua Barney, not in a moment of triumph, but shortly after he is wounded. He is being assisted by Charles Ball, a former slave and member of the flotilla who fought alongside Barney at Bladensburg. The other figure represents a member of the Marines. All three figures are looking up, “undaunted” with their weapons at the ready.
The figures was sculpted in relief and cast in bronze. The bronze panel is housed in a limestone base that reads “Undaunted in Battle.” The back surface of the base has a Battle of Bladensburg interpretive marker. Constructed of granite, the marker will provide a focus for tourism in the area, and will contain information about the battle and battlefield, including a narrative summary of the battle with quotations, maps and graphics.
The location of the memorial is in the center of the former Bladensburg Balloon Park, a landscaped area owned by M-NCPPC, between the Peace Cross and an existing parking lot next to the George Washington House.
The sculptor selected for the proposed memorial was Joanna Blake. Mrs. Blake, who died in 2015, was a resident of Cottage City and a figurative sculptor with a studio in Brentwood, MD. She had worked for Kaskey Studio, Inc., where she has contributed her design and sculpting skills to the creation of a number of large scale public monuments, most notably, the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The Aman Memorial Trust, who led the development of the monument, is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization that supports historic preservation in and about the Town of Bladensburg. The Trust took the lead in organizing a memorial committee that received and disbursed funds for the memorial. A large deal of the funding was from State of Maryland funds. Amen Trust hopes the sculpture and surrounding landscape creates a space for reflection; a destination for tourists interested in history and a reminder to Maryland residents of the historical events of August 24, 1814.
From Archived Website: battleofbladensburg1812.com
The Battle of Bladensburg Task Force, established by the Town of Bladensburg in cooperation with the Towns of Cottage City and Colmar Manor, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Councilwoman Andrea Harrison’s office, and Prince George’s Heritage Inc, is committed to tell the story of the military actions that preceded and followed the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814. Through a Visitor Center, walking tours, events and signage, the Task Force is working with partners across the area to ensure visitors and the community understands that without the Battle of Bladensburg and Prince George’s County, the Star Spangled Banner and the success at Baltimore, would not have occurred.
In the spring of 2010, the Battle of Bladensburg Commemoration Task Force was formed to plan the Commemoration of the Battle of Bladensburg; producing a permanent visitor experience and thinking creatively to ensure visitors enjoy and learn about the Battle while visiting other War of 1812 sites in Maryland. The Task Force initially came together in March of 2010. A charette was conducted on June 23rd that generated ideas, from which the Task Force built this plan. The Task Force met weekly work through the details, met with experts in the field, and made the connections to stakeholders.
Odette T. Ramos of Strategic Management Consulting LLC., a consultant to the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Inc. and the Port Towns CDC was asked to lead the development a plan for the Commemoration. Through the work of a variety of partners – The Aman Trust, Anacostia Watershed Society, Town of Bladensburg, Town of Colmar Manor, Town of Cottage City, Friends of the Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, Prince George’s County (Councilwoman Harrison), Prince George’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Prince George’s Heritage Inc. - this concept was formulated into a formal plan.
In addition, The Governor of Maryland appointed a Maryland War of 1812 Commission to coordinate efforts statewide. They have declared that the War of 1812 Commemoration period in Maryland is from July 2012 through February of 2015. Furthermore, the National Park Service has been developing the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, which Bladensburg will be a key component. Finally, Prince George’s County has established a Bicentennial Commission for the county, which the task force participates within.
This plan is the jumping off point from which ATHA, Inc. and this Task Force will implement this important commemoration plan. The Commemoration plan build on the current historic assets in the area, and adds to them in a creative way to significantly enhance the visitor experience in the area, and ensure there is something there for visitors to come, see, and enjoy.