Marietta in Washington County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Memorial to the “Start Westward of the United States”

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2009

1. Memorial to the "Start Westward of the United States" Marker

Inscription. Sculpted for Marietta's Sesquicentennial by Gutzon Borglum
—————————— Dedicated July 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a tribute to those farsighted pioneers who journeyed here from New England in 1788 and established Marietta as the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory under the landmark Ordinance of 1787 —————————— Rededicated July 1988 at the Closing Ceremonies for Marietta's Bicentennial Celebration to the Sesquicentennial Pioneer Caravan and in memory of Edwin “Zeke” Pugh (1917-1988) member of the 1937-1938 Caravan and leader of the 1987-1988 Bicentennial Trekkers. —————————— Restored as a Bicentennial project through generous contributions from school children in Marietta and Washington County. ——————————
Other contributors to the 1987-1988 restoration: Northwest Ordinance/U.S. Constitution Bicentennial Commission, U.S. Capitol Bicentennial Christmas Tree Fund, Wayne National Forest, Marian Baesel Schimmel Sesquicentennial Pioneer Caravan, Ohio Historical Society, Colonial Dames 17th Century, Marietta Mary Ann Genheimer, Mary

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Gardner Owen Society, N.S.C.A.R., Marietta Bicentennial Commission

Erected 1938 by Marietta Bicentennial Celebration and Additional Organizations Seen in Monument Inscription.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Patriots & Patriotism • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is July 15, 1938.

Location. 39° 24.943′ N, 81° 27.462′ W. Marker is in Marietta, Ohio, in Washington County. It is on Front Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is next to the Start Westward memorial in Muskingum Park, off Front Street, about 600 feet northwest of Putnam Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marietta OH 45750, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Memorial To The Start Westward (a few steps from this marker);

Start Westward Memorial and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2009

2. Start Westward Memorial and Marker

Looking from Front Street toward Muskingum River.

Muskingum Park (a few steps from this marker); General Arthur St. Clair (within shouting distance of this marker); Meigs House (within shouting distance of this marker); Buckley House (within shouting distance of this marker); First Congregational Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named First Congregational Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Washington County Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marietta.

Inscription on Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2009

3. Inscription on Monument

This group of Revolutionary and Pioneer figures represents the start of American government west of the thirteen original states. Mt. Rushmore's Gutzon Borglum sculptured, from native sandstone, the memorial which was dedicated at the sesquicentennial by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Commemorating the bicentennial, the Marietta Kiwanis Club has added the flags of the six states formed from the Northwest Territory, our national flag, and provided permanent illumination. July 15, 1988 (Flags can be seen in Photo #2)

Start Westward Memorial (front) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2009

4. Start Westward Memorial (front)

Start Westward Memorial (rear) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2009

5. Start Westward Memorial (rear)

Start Westward Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2009

6. Start Westward Memorial

Looking toward Front Street and the Meigs House.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2009

7. Marietta Bicentennial Logo on Marker

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 10, 2010

8. Memorial to the "Start Westward of the United States" Marker

the river landing, on the Muskingum, just west of the statue and marker

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 10, 2010

9. Memorial to the "Start Westward of the United States" Marker

inscription on what I call “the Front Steps of Ohio”

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,136 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 9, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 8, 9. submitted on January 17, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.