Borglum’s Grandchildren visit Marietta
Preserving our nation’s history,
right here in Marietta.
The Ordinance of 1787
The Revolutionary War veteran pioneers depicted in this memorial came here from New England in 1788. They had just escaped what they felt was the tyranny of a king, and came looking for freedom. Freedom from tyranny. Freedom of religion. Freedom from the stain of slavery. They fought for those ideals as they built the Northwest Territory, starting right here in Marietta.
That search for freedom, the American dream, is what the National Memorial to the Start Westward of the United States stands for. This message is just as relevant today as it was over 200 years ago.
This view depicted in Borglum’s original sketches has the pioneer war veterans looking with confidence toward America’s exciting future in the new territory. Notice the woman looking forlornly toward home while two pioneers unload the boat
The Memorial
Gutzon Borglum, most widely known for sculpting the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, designed this memorial at his San Antonio, Texas studio in 1937.
Start Westward Memorial Society LLC
Our society was founded on July 1, 2019 with guidance from the Mount Rushmore Society and the National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center. We are providing private sector assistance for Memorial’s owner, the City of Marietta.
(Visit Marietta City website)