Capitol Hill in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
James A. Garfield
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
1. James A. Garfield Memorial
(Front):
1831 - 1881
(Left):
Member of Congress,
Senator
and
President
of the
United States
of
America.
(Right):
by his comrades
of the
Society of the Army
of the
Cumberland
May 12 1887.
Erected 1887.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #20 James A. Garfield series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 2004.
Location. 38° 53.339′ N, 77° 0.74′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Capitol Hill. It is at the intersection of East Capitol Circle Southwest and Maryland Avenue Southwest, in the median on East Capitol Circle Southwest. Located southwest of the US Capitol. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washington DC 20004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Capitol Square, SW (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Botanic Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Capitol Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Grains
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. Power from the Wind (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Power from the Wind (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); O Say Can You See (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . .
1. James A. Garfield Memorial. SIRIS entry for the memorial. (Submitted on May 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. James Abram Garfield at FindAGrave.com. (Submitted on September 16, 2013, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
2. Left Side Inscription
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
3. Right Side Inscription
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
4. The Scholar
One of the figures around the base of the memorial represents the "scholar," one of the three phases in Garfield's career.
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
5. The Stateman
The second of the figures depicts the "Statesman."
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 23, 2008
6. James A. Garfield Memorial
On this facing the figure at the base is titled the "soldier".
Photographed by Kevin W., January 10, 2010
7. James A. Garfield Memorial with the U.S. Capitol in the background
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 12, 2015
8. James A. Garfield
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, August 9, 2015
9. James A. Garfield
This 1881 portrait of James A. Garfield by Ole Peter Hansen Balling hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.
“Through repeated balloting at the Republican convention of 1880, delegates remained deadlocked in naming a presidential candidate. Finally, after thirty-five ballots, they were ready for a compromise. Rejecting both front-runners — James Blaine and Ulysses S. Grant — the delegates endorsed Ohio congressman James A. Garfield, whose aspirations had been limited to becoming a senator.
The patronage-driven factionalism that led to Garfield's nomination continued to fester following his assumption of the presidency. On July 2, 1881, angered that Garfield had not awarded him a public office, a member of a GOP faction shot the president as he went to board a train. Eleven weeks later, Garfield was dead from his wound.
This staid portrait by Norwegian artist Ole Peter Hansen Balling may have captured Garfield's physical traits accurately, but it did not convey his spellbinding impact on people. Having once been a lay preacher, Garfield was at his most impressive when speaking. According to one observer, his thoughts sometimes seemed to issue forth at the podium like solid shot from a cannon.” — National Portrait Gallery
“Through repeated balloting at the Republican convention of 1880, delegates remained deadlocked in naming a presidential candidate. Finally, after thirty-five ballots, they were ready for a compromise. Rejecting both front-runners — James Blaine and Ulysses S. Grant — the delegates endorsed Ohio congressman James A. Garfield, whose aspirations had been limited to becoming a senator.
The patronage-driven factionalism that led to Garfield's nomination continued to fester following his assumption of the presidency. On July 2, 1881, angered that Garfield had not awarded him a public office, a member of a GOP faction shot the president as he went to board a train. Eleven weeks later, Garfield was dead from his wound.
This staid portrait by Norwegian artist Ole Peter Hansen Balling may have captured Garfield's physical traits accurately, but it did not convey his spellbinding impact on people. Having once been a lay preacher, Garfield was at his most impressive when speaking. According to one observer, his thoughts sometimes seemed to issue forth at the podium like solid shot from a cannon.” — National Portrait Gallery
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 12, 2015
10. James A. Garfield Statue
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,131 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 7. submitted on January 10, 2010, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 8, 9. submitted on September 14, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 10. submitted on September 16, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
