The George Rogers Clark Memorial

The George Rogers Clark memorial and grassy mall

NPS Photo

The George Rogers Clark Memorial is open on request daily between 9:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. with the exception of some federal holidays. Please check in with rangers at the visitor center to ensure that the memorial is open before ascending the 33 steps to the door.

Inside the memorial are seven (7) murals painted by artist Ezra Winter, a bas-relief sculpted by Joseph Kiselewski, and a statue of George Rogers Clark sculpted by Hermon Atkins MacNeil.

The memorial building was designed by architect Frederic C. Hirons and constructed by the WR Heath company between 1931 and 1933.

 

Clark Memorial Interior

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  The strategist

  George Rogers Clark Statue

  A striking and handsome portrayal of George Rogers Clark by sculptor Hermon MacNeil

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  Patrick Henry gives Clark his orders

  Bas-Relief of George Rogers Clark

  A young, confident George Rogers Clark receiving his orders from Patrick Henry to attack the British outposts on the western frontier.

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  Color and light

  The colorful etched glass laylight

  The laylight was etched and painted with an intricate design of swirls in the outer rings with the Seal of the United States at the center.

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  The March West

  Kentucky: Entering the Great Valley

  George Rogers Clark on horseback leading settlers across the Allegheny Mountains.

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  Negotiations

  Cahokia: Peace or War with the Indians

  George Rogers Clark in Cahokia, at a council he called with local Indian tribes in an effort to negotiate peace.

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  Trudging through freezing water

  Wabash: Through Wilderness and Flood

  Clark and 170 of his men trek 19 days from Kaskaskia to Vincennes the last 10 days of which were spent wading through icy floodwaters.

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  A few men well conducted

  Vincennes: British Barrier to the West

  The small force of Frontiersmen make lots of noise and fire as quickly as they can in order to present the image of a larger force.

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  Victory allows Westward expansion

  Ft Sackville: Britain yields possession

  Clark's victory here completely changed the dynamics of the western frontier.

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  Uniting to create a new territory.

  Marietta: The Northwest a new territory

  Winthrop Sargent, the secretary of the Northwest Territory reads the Northwest Ordinance to settlers.

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  Further expansion into the West

  St. Louis: The way opened to the Pacific

  In 1804 three flags day celebrates the history and acquisition of the Louisiana Territory.

 

Memorial Grounds

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  The Bridge Approach

  The bridge approach, flagpole and two carved columns adorn the roadway on both sides of the street.

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  Go for a walk

  Lower Levee Trail

  The Lower Levee Trail connects George Rogers Clark National Historical Park to Kimmel Park near Vincennes University.

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  The informant

  Francis Vigo

  Francis Vigo, a fur trader, sits between the Clark Memorial and the Wabash River.

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  Patriot Priest

  Pierre Gibault

  Father Pierre Gibault,the only active priest serving between Appalachian Mountains and Mississippi River and the Great Lakes to New Orleans