The Forgotten Soldier Memorial (Key West, Florida)
Dublin Core
Title
The Forgotten Soldier Memorial (Key West, Florida)
Subject
Subject (Topic)
African Americans--History
Florida--Key West
Public art
Public sculpture
United States Colored Troops
African Americans--History
Florida--Key West
Public art
Public sculpture
United States Colored Troops
Subject (Object Type)
Commemorative sculpture
Commemorative sculpture
Description
The bronze sculpture depicts a uniformed USCT soldier holding a rifled musket in his left hand, while his right arm is outstretched over his head. He wears a standard Union military uniform, including a forage cap; a collared button-down coat; a wide belt with a U. S. brass buckle and a leather cap box attached to the belt; trousers; and boots. The memorial sits in the Key West Veterans Memorial Garden in Bayview Park.
Creator
Unknown
Source
Photograph: Wheree
Date
February 16, 2016
Contributor
Edward Knight
Rights
City of Key West, 1300 White Street, Key West, Florida, 33040, United States
Format
JPEG
Language
English
Type
Visual Arts-Sculpture
Coverage
Key West Veterans Memorial Garden, Bayview Park, José Martí Drive and Truman Drive, Key West, Florida, 33040, United States
Has Part
Bronze plaque on base:
In January of 1863, Col. James Montgomery of Kansas was authorized to raise regiments of troops consisting entirely of free blacks and former refugee slaves. The following month, he arrived in Key West to recruit men for that regiment. All Africans between the ages of 15 and 50 not in the services were ordered to report for medical examination and, if capable of bearing arms, to embark on the US Steamer Cosmopolitan for transport to Hilton Head to serve in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment. Some of these men returned to Key West after the war and started families. Several more were injured. At least 18 of them paid the ultimate price. These men served with great distinction, but their names were lost to time. This monument honors their courage, their actions, and their sacrifice, but most importantly, stands to make sure these men are never forgotten again.
In January of 1863, Col. James Montgomery of Kansas was authorized to raise regiments of troops consisting entirely of free blacks and former refugee slaves. The following month, he arrived in Key West to recruit men for that regiment. All Africans between the ages of 15 and 50 not in the services were ordered to report for medical examination and, if capable of bearing arms, to embark on the US Steamer Cosmopolitan for transport to Hilton Head to serve in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment. Some of these men returned to Key West after the war and started families. Several more were injured. At least 18 of them paid the ultimate price. These men served with great distinction, but their names were lost to time. This monument honors their courage, their actions, and their sacrifice, but most importantly, stands to make sure these men are never forgotten again.
Medium
Bronze; concrete
Bibliographic Citation
City of Key West. "Forgotten Soldier Sculpture Unveiled In Key West, February 16, 2016." YouTube. Accessed February 15, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvbte6dNCAM.
Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/.
Rights Holder
Renée Ater
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Sculpture
Collection
Citation
Unknown, “The Forgotten Soldier Memorial (Key West, Florida),” Contemporary Monuments to the Slave Past, accessed October 1, 2026, https://slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1109.