Gutzon Borglum with assistant Charley Johnson creating the full scale plaster of paris rendering.
The National Memorial to the “Start Westward of the United States” - Created by Gutzon Borglum
Gutzon Borglum, most widely known for sculpting the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, visited Marietta in October 1936 and agreed to sculpt this Memorial as a favor to his friend Former Ohio Governor George White.
“This place [Marietta] was the stepping stone, the first footprint of the nation as she started on her westward march.”
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City of Marietta, State of Ohio granted the United States of America the necessary permission and authority for erection of said Memorial and Pylons
Borglum designed this memorial at his San Antonio, Texas studio in 1937. He first sketched his ideas, then created a full scale plaster of paris rendering. After his concept was complete he worked with State Architect of Ohio, John Schooley, to create an architectural rendering of the esplanade. Borglum then created the smaller clay model he shipped to Marietta for the stone carvers to scale from and carve the sandstone sculpture.
One of three initial sketches by Gutzon Borglum generously donated to the Start Westward Memorial Society by his grandchildren Robin Borglum Kennedy and Jim Borglum.
View All Three Sketches
Gutzon Borglum’s clay model used by stone carvers to scale the sandstone memorial.
Architectural Rendering by Gutzon Borglum and John Schooley for “Memorial to the Start Westward of the United States.”
Construction
The memorial was sculpted from local sandstone to stimulate employment of local workers with New Deal WPA funding.
(Read Borglum’s letter of instruction)
December 13, 1937: Gutzon Borglum (second from right) viewing the 80-Ton block of sandstone from which the six heroic figures were carved.
View Sandstone Report
Carving of the memorial began at the quarry near where old Ohio River Lock #18 was located then trucked to Muskingum Park.
(View the list of WPA workers)
May 7, 1938: Partially carved sandstone block now weighing 25-tons loaded onto a trailer at the quarry in preparation of transporting it to Muskingum Park.
May 1938: Stone carvers used Gutzon Borglum’s clay maquette to scale the sandstone memorial.
Ohio State Architect John Schooley made an on-site decision (contrary to the wishes of Executive Director E.W. Hawes and others) for the three pioneers to face toward the street so the boat faces the river bank.
June 1, 1938: John Schooley (center) supervising rotation of standing group of pioneers to face eastward toward Front Street.
During the Great Depression the City of Marietta invested New Deal money to preserve its history.
Dedication Ceremony
President Franklin D. Roosevelt traveled by train from Washington DC, arriving in Marietta at 9:00 AM, July 8, 1938.
Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., Attorney General Homer S. Cummings, Secretary of State Cordell Hull, President Roosevelt, and Mrs. Homer S. Cummings.
The Memorial to the Start Westward of the United States was dedicated by the President at 10:00 AM, July 8, 1938.
Roosevelt concluded his speech by saying, “I hereby dedicate this great monument commemorating one hundred and fifty years of Americanism.”
(FDR Dedication Newsreel) (Read his speech)
Completed memorial in its original condition.
Completed esplanade in its original condition.