Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza Arch Reopens Following $8.9 Million Restoration

The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, New York, has reopened after nearly two years of extensive restoration. Completed at a cost of approximately $8.9 million, the project was overseen by the New York City Department of Parks and the Prospect Park Alliance (PPA). Built between 1889 and 1892 by John H. Duncan, the arch commemorates Union Army forces that fell in the Civil War and features bronze statuary by Frederick MacMonnies, including the city’s only public statue of a Black Civil War sailor.

Located in one of Brooklyn’s busiest traffic circles, the arch had suffered from invasive plants and deteriorating infrastructure since its last major renovation in the mid-1990s. The recent restoration included repairs to the roof, steel beams, stonework, and spiral staircases, as well as a new internal drainage system and redesigned lighting to highlight its sculptures. The work involved overcoming challenges such as addressing moisture damage and conducting thorough research due to lost original blueprints.

Once used for arts exhibitions and a puppet library, the arch’s interior spaces are now closed to the public. The restoration also included improvements to the Bailey Fountain and landscaping enhancements. This refurbishment accompanies the installation of “Monuments to Motherhood” by Molly Gochman, now on display nearby.