Wyoming Monument

Wyoming Monument
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Wyoming Monument in 2013
Location	US 11, Wyoming Ave. and Susquehanna Ave., Wyoming, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	41°18′13″N 75°50′45″W / 41.30361°N 75.84583°WCoordinates: 41°18′13″N 75°50′45″W / 41.30361°N 75.84583°W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1833
Architect	Walter, Thomas Ustick; et al.
Architectural style	Exotic Revival
NRHP Reference #	02000509[1]
Added to NRHP	May 13, 2002

The Wyoming Monument is an American Revolutionary War monument and gravesite located in the borough of Wyoming, Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County.

The monument marks the gravesite of the bones of victims of the Wyoming Massacre, which took place on July 3, 1778. Local residents banded together to defend the area against an invasion of British Tories as well as pro-Tory Native Americans. The battle ended in defeat for the colonial fighters and considerable brutality followed the battle. It was not until October 22, 1778 that a recovery party felt the region safe enough to return to begin recovery of the bodies of those slain in the battle. The remains were gathered and interred in a common grave, only to be dug up again at public ceremonies in 1832 — ceremonies attended by some of the then elderly survivors of the massacre. In 1833, the bones were re-interred in a vault under the present monument.

Ownership of the monument is held by the Wyoming Monument Association, originally formed as the Ladies Monumental Association. It is one of the oldest all-female historical groups in the United States.

Each year, beginning in 1878 for the 100th anniversary of the battle, a commemorative ceremony is held on the grounds of the stone obelisk. The ceremony is sponsored by the Wyoming Commemorative Association.

On August 2, 2008, the monument was struck by lightning, causing some damage and putting the monument in need of repairs.^[2] In 2010, the restoration began and the monument, completely repaired and restored, was rededicated at the annual celebration of the Wyoming Commemorative Association on July 4, 2011.

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  Photo of the Monument circa 1910

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  Sketch of the Wyoming Monument circa 1860

References

1. Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. "Wyoming Monument needs repairs". Citizen's Voice. 2008-08-13.

• Oscar Jewel Harvey, History of Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming Valley

External links

• Former President Jimmy Carter speaks at Wyoming Monument on May 28, 2013 (archived on C-SPAN)