Lakeland in Polk County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Polk County Confederate Monument
CSA
— 1861 1865 —
(Left face)
In memory of that noble band,
who have crossed the mystic
stream,
and are resting now in that
happy land,
where peace and pleasure
reign supreme.
The heroic deeds will never
fade,
from memory's brightest page,
and their brave defense of
country and home,
is left as a glorious heritage.
(Right face)
by the Lakeland Chapter
United Daughters
of the Confederacy
in memory of the noble
Sons of the South.
A.D. 1910.
Erected 1910 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Lakeland Chapter.
Topics and series. This monument and memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the United Daughters of the Confederacy series list.
Location. 28° 2.472′ N, 81° 57.979′ W. Marker is in Lakeland, Florida, in Polk County. Memorial can be reached from Lake Beulah Drive south of West Lemon Street, on the left when traveling south. The monument is located in Veterans Memorial Park in Lakeland. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 138 Lake Beulah Dr, Lakeland FL 33815, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Private James H. Mills (within shouting distance of this marker); Combat Wounded Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great African American Generation (within shouting distance of this marker); World War II Prisoners of War (within shouting distance of this marker); Pearl Harbor Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Women Veterans of World War II (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Global War on Terrorism Freedom Memorial (about 400 feet away); 9/11 Memorial (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lakeland.
More about this monument. The monument is an east facing, large granite shaft surmounted by a statue of a Confederate Soldier. Etched onto its front face is an image of two nondescript flags hanging from two poles crossed in an "x" formation.
The monument stood as the centerpiece of Munn Park, a Lakeland city park, until March 2019, when it was moved to Veteran’s Park. The photographs on this page show the monument at Munn Park. Old Location coordinates (28.044606, -81.955700)
Additional commentary.
1. Monument has been moved.
After a years-long debate and a federal lawsuit, this 108-year-old Confederate monument was taken down from Lakeland's downtown Munn Park and moved, less than a mile, to Lakeland Veterans Memorial Park at Lake Beulah Drive in March of 2019.
As part of the nationwide blowback against the display of Confederate monuments in public spaces, some residents banded together to convince city officials to relocate the monument. In the minds of some Lakeland residents, the statue wasn’t representative of the city in its present day.
— Submitted April 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,558 times since then and 117 times this year. Last updated on December 6, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on April 14, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 8. submitted on December 6, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.