Dublin Core
Title
Riverside Cemetery Confederate Monument, Denver, Colorado
Subject
A Confederate monument plaque surrounded by inscribed bricks and accompanied by the official flag of the Confederacy.
Description
Dedicated by the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Sterling Price Camp #676 Association in 2003, the center plaque of the Confederate monument in Riverside Cemetery reads, "In honor of Colorado's Confederate Veterans who served during the War Between the States 1861 - 1865, Dedicated by the Colorado Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, 2003." Each of the bricks surrounding the center plaque are inscribed with the names and regiment numbers of Confederate troops. The official flag of the Confederacy use to fly above the monument.
Located at the rear of plot 16 at the Historic Riverside Cemetery, the Confederate monument reserves an isolated space away from all other headstones. The memorial is in close proximity to three mausoleums and is on the exact opposite side of the cemetery from the headstones of Union soldiers. The monument features 52 inscribed bricks, organized in 4 columns of 13 bricks, along with a plaque at the head of the column of bricks. The bricks represent Confederate soldiers, colonels, and captains from states such as: Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Virginia, and Tennessee. Many of the names are obscured by leaves and the growth of weeds, however, visible names include: Surgeon J. Blackerby, William Kidwell, Private John A. Sweeny, Private Randolph Carder, Captain William Garrett, Colonel Abram Fulkerson, and Private M. Polk Crisp. The brick of Private M. Polk Crisp is inscribed with the words “No Surrender.”
The monument is no longer clearly visible due to the protective housing placed around it. A plexiglass rectangle undergirded by thin aluminum wire makes it nearly impossible to see the monument. Furthermore, there does not seem to be maintenance of the monument occurring with any regularity. There is a heavy undergrowth of weeds and scattered leaves obscuring about a third of the total monument. The official flag of the Confederacy and the chrome dedication plaque on the flag pole have been removed. The concrete base of the monument looks to have been defaced by spray paint and is likewise covered in a significant amount of bird droppings. Despite the general neglect of the monument, two small bouquets of flowers protrude from the top of the plexiglass housing.
As of November 2023, the main office of the Historic Riverside Cemetery has been shuttered indefinitely, which made acquisition of information regarding the monument nearly impossible. It is unclear whether the Board of Directors of the cemetery grounds, or the Sons of Confederate Veterans encased the monument to protect it from vandalism or to shield it from the elements. One fact remains, the monument has not been decommissioned, but the exterior demonstrates a degree of dereliction and the lack of upkeep suggests that it is no longer in the public spotlight.
Located at the rear of plot 16 at the Historic Riverside Cemetery, the Confederate monument reserves an isolated space away from all other headstones. The memorial is in close proximity to three mausoleums and is on the exact opposite side of the cemetery from the headstones of Union soldiers. The monument features 52 inscribed bricks, organized in 4 columns of 13 bricks, along with a plaque at the head of the column of bricks. The bricks represent Confederate soldiers, colonels, and captains from states such as: Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Virginia, and Tennessee. Many of the names are obscured by leaves and the growth of weeds, however, visible names include: Surgeon J. Blackerby, William Kidwell, Private John A. Sweeny, Private Randolph Carder, Captain William Garrett, Colonel Abram Fulkerson, and Private M. Polk Crisp. The brick of Private M. Polk Crisp is inscribed with the words “No Surrender.”
The monument is no longer clearly visible due to the protective housing placed around it. A plexiglass rectangle undergirded by thin aluminum wire makes it nearly impossible to see the monument. Furthermore, there does not seem to be maintenance of the monument occurring with any regularity. There is a heavy undergrowth of weeds and scattered leaves obscuring about a third of the total monument. The official flag of the Confederacy and the chrome dedication plaque on the flag pole have been removed. The concrete base of the monument looks to have been defaced by spray paint and is likewise covered in a significant amount of bird droppings. Despite the general neglect of the monument, two small bouquets of flowers protrude from the top of the plexiglass housing.
As of November 2023, the main office of the Historic Riverside Cemetery has been shuttered indefinitely, which made acquisition of information regarding the monument nearly impossible. It is unclear whether the Board of Directors of the cemetery grounds, or the Sons of Confederate Veterans encased the monument to protect it from vandalism or to shield it from the elements. One fact remains, the monument has not been decommissioned, but the exterior demonstrates a degree of dereliction and the lack of upkeep suggests that it is no longer in the public spotlight.
Creator
The Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sterling Price Camp #676 Association
Sterling Price Camp #676 Association
Source
“Colorado Confederate Veterans Memorial - Riverside Cemetery, Denver, CO - American Civil War Monuments and Memorials on Waymarking.com.” n.d. Www.waymarking.com. Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5QAN.
“1 of 6 Civil War Monuments in Colorado Is in Denver’s Riverside Cemetery.” 2017. Wthr.com. August 15, 2017. https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/next/1-of-6-civil-war-monuments-in-colorado-is-in-denvers-riverside-cemetery/73-464658324.
Kurtz, Logan. 2022. “Riverside Cemetery and the Civil War.” Bucket List Community Cafe. November 9, 2022. https://bucketlistcommunitycafe.com/riverside-cemetery-and-the-civil-war/.
David Ramsey column. 2019. “David Ramsey: Confederate Flags Fly over Colorado Rebel Graves.” Colorado Springs Gazette. June 15, 2019. https://gazette.com/news/david-ramsey-confederate-flags-fly-over-colorado-rebel-graves/article_7b2ca66a-8ef5-11e9-838e-1b97c92b8c31.html.
“Home.” n.d. Scvdenver.org. Accessed November 17, 2023. https://scvdenver.org/.
“1 of 6 Civil War Monuments in Colorado Is in Denver’s Riverside Cemetery.” 2017. Wthr.com. August 15, 2017. https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/next/1-of-6-civil-war-monuments-in-colorado-is-in-denvers-riverside-cemetery/73-464658324.
Kurtz, Logan. 2022. “Riverside Cemetery and the Civil War.” Bucket List Community Cafe. November 9, 2022. https://bucketlistcommunitycafe.com/riverside-cemetery-and-the-civil-war/.
David Ramsey column. 2019. “David Ramsey: Confederate Flags Fly over Colorado Rebel Graves.” Colorado Springs Gazette. June 15, 2019. https://gazette.com/news/david-ramsey-confederate-flags-fly-over-colorado-rebel-graves/article_7b2ca66a-8ef5-11e9-838e-1b97c92b8c31.html.
“Home.” n.d. Scvdenver.org. Accessed November 17, 2023. https://scvdenver.org/.
Date
December 2003
Contributor
Kareem Khaled
Language
English
Type
Inscribed Plaque
Inscribed Bricks
Official Flag of the Confederacy
Inscribed Bricks
Official Flag of the Confederacy
Identifier
Hist 402A Fall 2023
Coverage
Denver, Colorado
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Photo