New book documents monumental efforts
Monuments are critical to local communities, bringing residents to public areas and capturing characteristics of cities and towns. In his newly published book, “Etched in Stone: Enduring Words from our Nation’s Monuments,” Santa Cruz, Calif., Mayor Ryan Coonerty explores national and local monuments — including the Lincoln Memorial in Washington; the Slavery Monument in Savannah, Ga.; the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in Boise and the Oklahoma City National Memorial — and the power of the words inscribed on them. American City & County talked with Coonerty about his experiences writing the book.
Q: How did your interest in national monuments and the words etched on their surfaces develop?
A: It began while I was living in Washington, D.C. I’d go on walks down to the memorials, and they were overrun with tourists. There was a lot of running and arguing and all kinds of mayhem going on. But, then I noticed that, once they [were] inside and started reading the words, they really engaged. I saw it as a phenomenon, and it was inspiring to see. Once I [noticed] it at one place, I started noticing it everywhere, and, soon, I had an idea for a book.
Q: Are there any common traits among the monuments that you studied?
A: [There’s] everything from petroglyphs to poetry on the sidewalks of Portland, Ore., to the Gettysburg Address at the Lincoln Memorial. Each is done within its own context [and] in its own time. One of the interesting things is that our presidential memorials tend not to have a list of accomplishments [but] rather the president’s aspirations for the country.
Q: Was there anything that surprised you about the monuments that are featured in your book?
A: It’s just how often communities take the time to write words in stone, whether it’s on their public library, or in their town square, or in a formal monument or memorial. There’s a real human impulse to leave a lasting testament for future generations.
Q: What do monuments tell us about our communities?
A: There is one in Duluth, Minn., that has to do with a turn-of-the-century lynching [that] largely went unnoticed or forgotten in history until a local historian told the story and a group of citizens came together to build that monument to talk about the importance of tolerance. Similarly, one of the most unique memorials is the Anne Frank Memorial in Boise, Idaho, and the idea that [she] would have a memorial [there], a place she couldn’t even imagine existed. But, they were so touched by her story and so touched by her hopes for mankind. It’s become an important part of their landscape.
Q: How does a public space influence a monument?
A: Public spaces are incredibly important, especially in our age now when people tend to isolate themselves in their homes and behind their computers. The importance of public spaces is that [they allow] strangers to interact. When you add to that the ideals, aspirations or histories that are reflected in monuments and memorials, it’s even more important because we just rarely have that opportunity to interact like that. Many of these monuments [are created when] community groups come together and decide that they want to leave something for the future. Most [monuments] go through a process from a community group to local city councils and school boards. It’s a great democratic tradition.