Madison Square Park is full of various sculptures and monuments that contribute to its cultural and historical significance.

The memorial that stood out to me was the William Henry Seward statue because it portrays William sitting down and I haven’t seen that everywhere. The main components of the monument is William Seward clothed elegantly and sitting in an old fashioned chair. He is holding a feather pen in his hand. William has a serious facial expression. I have walked past this statute many times and I had never stopped and took the time out of my day to research who this man was and the impact he had. I can infer that William was a man of high class and elegance because of the way that he is sat with one leg over the other.

William was an American politician in the 19th century. He served as the Governor of New York from 1839 to 1842. He was also a US Senator from 1849 to 1861. He was also known for his strong anti-slavery views and played a very important role in the anti-slavery movement. He was appointed Secretary of State by President Lincoln in 1861. He is known for negotiating the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. I think the intended audience for this monument would be historians or normal people with good knowledge of the historic figures because most people would just keep walking and not value the role that Seward played in American society. The purpose of this memorial is to pay tribute to Seward but, I think the memorial needs a renovation in order for more people to acknowledge Seward. My final thoughts on this work is that William deserves a renovated and updated memorial in order for more public interaction.

William Henry Seward Statue

Admiral David Glasgow Farragut Monument

Chester Alan Arthur Statue Monument

Roscoe Conkling Statue