Description

Rough Rider Monument dedication ceremony and unveiling on the north side of the Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott, Arizona. This picture was taken right before the unveiling of the bronze equestrian statue. The statue was sculpted by Solon H. Borglum to honor the many men of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Calvary better known as the Rough Riders of the Spanish-American War (1898). However, many see this statue as a dedication to American hero Captain William "Buckey" Owen O'Neill commander of Troop A who fought and died in the Spanish-American War - July 1, 1898 on Kettle Hill in Cuba. The large speaker's stand located to the lower right is where "the dedication ceremony was opened by Robert Morrison, chairman of the Monument Commission which had raised the funds for the monument. A twenty-member military band from the "Fighting Fifth" at Fort Huachuca played marches and patriotic tunes. Speeches were given by Major General A.L. Chaffee, Brig. General E.D. Thomas, and Governor J.H. Kibbey. Judge R.E. Sloan, associate justice of the Supreme Court, presented the monument. At each mention of O'Neill's name, the crowd cheered boisterously." (quoted excerpt from the Days Past article dated June 28, 1998, "Rough Rider Dedication of 1907 to be repeated this Friday" by Warren Miller - SHM Curator of Education).