Central Business District in Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Thomas Starr King
1824 - 1864
Starr King was a Unitarian preacher credited with keeping California from seceding from the Union at the dawn of the Civil War. His ceaseless advocacy for the Union cause would earn him the title “Apostle of Liberty”. This prominent location welcomes visitors to the Civil War Grove, the first monument in Capitol Park. The grove was dedicated on May 1, 1897, and honors all those who fought in the war.
Erected 2009.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Unitarian Universalism (UUism) series list.
Location. 38° 34.591′ N, 121° 29.502′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in the Central Business District. Marker can be reached from the intersection of L Street and 10th Street, on the right when traveling east. Located in the Civil War Grove, on the grounds of the California State Capitol. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1315 10th Street, Sacramento CA 95814, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Civil War Symbol Yields To Time (within shouting distance of this marker); USS California Bell Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Liberty Bell Replica (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Camellia Grove (within shouting distance of this marker); The Civil War Memorial Grove (within shouting distance of this marker); California State Capitol Park (within shouting distance of this marker); El Camino Real Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Kenneth L. Maddy (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sacramento.
More about this marker. In 1913, Thomas Starr King was judged one of California’s greatest heroes and money was raised to cast a bronze statue of him that would stand in the National Statuary Hall Collection of the U.S. Capitol. The statue was eventually donated to the hall in 1931.
In 2006 the California Legislature removed Thomas Starr King’s statue from the National Statuary Hall and replace it with one of former President and Governor Ronald Reagan. The statue was erected here, in the Civil War Grove, in 2009.
Regarding Thomas Starr King. In addition to working to keep California in the Union, Thomas Starr King was instrumental in raising $1.5 million for the U.S. Sanitary Commission – the predecessor to the American Red Cross – and passing an 1864 bill that preserved 20,000 acres of Yosemite Valley for public use and recreation.
Also see . . . Thomas Starr King on Wikipedia. (Submitted on November 4, 2015, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Additional keywords. Unitarian Universalism
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2015, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 396 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 4, 2015, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.