Capitol Mall

After checking into our hotel, we explored the mall and building of the Minnesota State Capitol. The mall extends over 18 acres and includes many memorials and monuments. For a complete list (and the origin of the quotes on this page), click here.

Here are some of the memorials and monuments that we saw.

"Since 1881, 217 Minnesota firefighters have died in the line of duty...The grid of weathering steel columns rusts over time - a process reflecting oxidation of fire. Names of Minnesota's fallen firefighters are inscribed on the columns with room in the grid for additional columns and inscriptions in the future, making it a living monument. The wall greeting visitors to the site is inscribed with names of the 791 fire departments throughout the state":

Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial

A closeup:

Sculptor of original bronze statue: Douglas O. Freeman; Architect: Leo A Daly; Engineer: Westwood Professional Services; dedicated on September 30, 2012

In honor of Vietnam War veterans, with a plaque that reads, "Why do you forget us?"

Monument to the Living

Here is the Monument to the Living from the back (the flag in the far right of the photo is at half-staff in honor of U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings, who died the day before we arrived in Minnesota):

Sculptor: Rodger M. Brodin; dedicated on May 22, 1982

This memorial was "...built to commemorate the Hmong, Lao and other combat veterans and their American advisors, trainers, volunteers and forgotten heroes who served and fought to maintain peace and freedom in Southeast Asia":

Special Forces in Laos Memorial

Closeup of one of the panels:

Sculptor: Marjorie Pitz; Site Design: Kathryn Ryan and Greg Brown, AECOM; dedicated on June 11, 2016

"The 46 central elements in this sculpture composition is a 'Spiral for Justice,' representing the 46 years of Roy Wilkins' leadership of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in its fight for social and economic justice for all Americans":

Roy Wilkins Memorial

This memorial was inspired by a Roy Wilkins quote: "We must truly see others as ourselves and all as our nation - our common and glorious heritage built upon man and his freedom. For this is what our country is about."

Sculptor: Curtis Patterson; dedicated November1995

"The bronze statues represent Lindbergh as a boy dreaming of flying and as a man who accomplished that dream, honoring the Minnesota aviator who made the first solo trans-Atlantic airplane flight in 1927." The squirrel is not mentioned:

Charles Lindbergh. Sculptor: Paul T. Granlund; dedicated in 1985

"'It was once said that the moral test of Government is how that Government treats those who are in the dawn of life, children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.' -- Hubert H. Humphrey, 1977. Humphrey served as Mayor of the City of Minneapolis from 1945-1948, as United States Senator from 1971-1978, and Vice-President of the United States from 1965-1969":

Hubert H. Humphrey Memorial. Sculptors: Jeff and Anna Koh Varilla; Site Design: Jeff Martin, DSU; dedicated on
August 4, 2012

A view of downtown Saint Paul from the capitol steps:

This woman dancing with her scarf made us feel like we'd never left home: