Following his death, several Brooklynites began to organize efforts to erect a monument in the city in his honor, with the location of the monument to be determined by the municipal authorities.[2] While planned to initially be funded through donations, it was soon decided that public funds would be used. In 1895, the city government of Brooklyn passed a law allocating funds to the erection of the statue, the cost of which was not to exceed $30,000. American sculptor Frederick William MacMonnies, who at the time was operating out of Paris, was contracted to design the statue.[2][3] He completed the casting of the statue by 1900,[4] and the statue was shipped to Brooklyn in 1902. However, the statue was kept in storage for some time as the pedestal and foundation were being prepared.[2][3] The pedestal was designed by architectStanford White, with the location of the monument being the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Bedford Avenue.[5]
In 1924, the monument was moved to the intersection of 15th Street and Prospect Park West, and was again moved to its current location at Grand Army Plaza in 1928.[8]
Design
The monument consists of a bronze equestrian statue atop a granite pedestal.[2] On either side of the pedestal are two large bronze medallions,[9] while a bronze eagle with outstretched wings is affixed to the front.[10] Slocum, holding a sword upward,[11] faces to the right.[9] The only inscription on the pedestal is the name "SLOCUM".[10] According to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the monument's pedestal measures approximately 12 feet (3.7 m) tall and covers an area of approximately 10.5 feet (3.2 m) by 18.33 feet (5.59 m). The statue itself stands an additional 17 feet (5.2 m) atop the pedestal.[12] While initially facing west from the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Beford Avenue,[13] the monument now stands at Grand Army Plaza, east of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch, near East Plaza Street,[12] where it faces towards Central Library.[5]