Garden City in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Rainbow Division Monument
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 27, 2025
1. Rainbow Division Monument Marker
This obelisk honors the 42nd US Infantry Division’s service in WWI. “Like a rainbow across the country,” then Major Douglas MacArthur noted, the 42nd consisted of 26 National Guard units. New York was represented by “The Fighting 69th” of Civil War fame as the 165th US Rgt. A restructured “Rainbow Division” saw action in WWII and the War on Terror.
Captions:
The 42nd Infantry Division arriving at Camp Mills in Garden City on 20 August 1917.
Camp Mills encampment of 1917 facing southeast from the railroad
Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: War, World I.
Location. 40° 43.618′ N, 73° 37.258′ W. Marker is in Garden City, New York, in Nassau County. It is at the intersection of Rainbow Place and Saint James Street on Rainbow Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Rainbow Place, Garden City NY 11530, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and monument is in the New York City Metropolitan Area and on Long Island. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Rainbow Division Monument (a few steps from this marker); Camp Albert Mills (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Curtiss Engineering Corporation (about 600 feet away); John A. Hahn (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of Camp Black
this page online
Also see . . . Historic Markers in Garden City.
Upon activation in 1917, the soldiers forming the Army 42ndInfantry Division (42ID), the “Rainbow Division”, were the first to come to the newly formed Camp Albert Mills for deployment to France. This camp was located in Garden City to the east of Clinton Rd. and south of the LIRR. It processed over 31,000 troops including those returning from the conflict.(Submitted on October 8, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 27, 2025
2. Rainbow Division Monument
The historical marker is located in the same triangle as the Rainbow Division Monument, which can be seen in the background of the photo.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 27, 2025
3. Rainbow Division Monument
The Rainbow Division Monument, located near the former Camp Mills site.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 90 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 8, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
