Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument

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Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument
2025-08-09 - Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument.jpg
Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument
ArtistAnn Chamberlain, Walter Hood
Year2008
Medium Steel, Onyx, Concrete
Subject Lincoln Battalion, XV International Brigade
Dimensions2.4 m× 0.6 m× 11.9 m(8 ft× 1.9 ft× 39 ft)
Location Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco, California, United States
Coordinates 37°47′44″N122°23′43″W / 37.79551342820834°N 122.39515003159°W / 37.79551342820834; -122.39515003159
Owner San Francisco Arts Commission
Accession2008.3
Website embarcaderoplaza.com/tour/abraham-lincoln-brigade-monument

The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument is a steel and onyx art installation in Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco's Financial District, in the U.S. state of California. The Monument was designed by Ann Chamberlain and Walter J. Hood with US$400,000 in funding from the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives to honor the Lincoln Battalion and XV International Brigade, formed to fight for the Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. [1] It was dedicated on March 30, 2008 and is part of the San Francisco Arts Commission collection. [2] [3] [4]

One side of the monuments' panels show portraits of the volunteers. The other side of the panels contain annotated maps of the front lines between 1936 and 1938, as well as quotes of volunteers Abe Osheroff, Dave Smith, [5] Alvah Bessie, Edwin Rolfe, Frederick Martin, Ruth Davidow, Robert Colodny, and Steve Nelson. The remainder panels contain words about that period from historians, labor organizers, writers, and musicians, such as Dolores Ibarruri, Albert Camus, Ernest Hemingway, and Paul Robeson. [6]

Intermittent repairs occurred in the decade since the Monument was installed. In August 2018, the onyx stone panels were removed and taken offsite for repair, due to a combination of design issues and neglect. [7] The Monument was restored by May 2020. [8]

References

  1. Fernandez, James D. (2016-07-20). "Spain's Civil War and the Americans who fought in it: a convoluted legacy". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  2. Vega, Cecilia M. (2008-03-31). "Monument to Lincoln Brigade unveiled". SFGATE. Archived from the original on 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  3. "San Francisco Arts Commission - Abraham Lincoln Brigade National Monument". kiosk.sfartscommission.org. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  4. BARBASSA, JULIANA. "US honors those who fought in Spanish Civil War". New Bedford Standard-Times. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  5. "David Smith: Spanish Civil War veteran". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  6. "Historical Marker Database - Abraham Lincoln Brigade National Monument". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  7. Nolte, Carl (August 13, 2018). "SF's memorial to Lincoln Brigade soldiers down for repairs". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  8. Santina, Don (2020-05-02). "The San Francisco Monument Repaired: Taps for the Abraham Lincoln Brigade". The Volunteer. Retrieved 2025-08-18.