Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch
Comprehensive exterior restoration of Hartford's iconic Civil War memorial — a Romanesque Revival brownstone arch featuring ornamental stone carvings, terracotta frieze panels, and bronze statuary.
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, designed by George Keller and completed in 1886, stands at the entrance to Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut.
CLIENT
City of Hartford, CT - Parks & Recreation
STRUCTURE TYPE
Public Monument
LOCATION
Hartford, CT
Services Provided on This Project
Historic Masonry
Integrated Architectural Restoration
Historic Roofing
Architectural Sheet Metal
Restoration Carpentry
Architectural Coatings
Restoring Hartford's Civil War Memorial
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch is one of the most significant Civil War monuments in the United States. Designed by architect George Keller and completed in 1886, the Romanesque Revival structure rises over the entrance to Bushnell Park as a tribute to Hartford residents who served in the Civil War.
Cenaxo was engaged to perform a comprehensive exterior restoration addressing decades of deterioration from environmental exposure, freeze-thaw cycling, and deferred maintenance. The scope encompassed the arch's brownstone masonry, ornamental terracotta frieze, carved sandstone details, bronze statuary, conical tower roofs, and historic timber doors.
Working under strict compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, our team coordinated closely with the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the City of Hartford to ensure every intervention honored the monument's architectural integrity and historical significance.
Project Scope
- Brownstone masonry repointing and dutchman repairs to the arch piers, towers, and parapet walls
- Cleaning and conservation of the terracotta relief frieze depicting wartime scenes
- Carved sandstone ornament repair and selective replacement with matching Portland brownstone
- Bronze statuary conservation including patina stabilization, structural reattachment, and protective wax coating
- Conical tower roof restoration with new copper standing seam and period-appropriate flashings
- Historic timber door restoration with ironwork conservation
- Full documentation package for SHPO review and Historic Tax Credit compliance
National Register Listed
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered one of the finest examples of Romanesque Revival civic architecture in New England. All restoration work was performed in strict accordance with federal preservation standards.
Let’s Protect What Matters Most
If you’re responsible for a historic building, choosing the right restoration partner matters. Cenaxo provides expert guidance from evaluation through execution — with clarity, care, and confidence.
