Dewey Arch

The Dewey Arch was a massive, temporary triumphal monument that stood right here in Madison Square for a single year at the turn of the twentieth century. It was built in a frantic two-month rush to honor Admiral George Dewey following his decisive naval victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. To accommodate such a tight schedule, the structure was composed of staff, a mixture of plaster and wood shavings commonly used for temporary fairground buildings. It featured a grand colonnade and was crowned with a large quadriga sculpture depicting four seahorses pulling a ship, a nod to the Admiral's naval success.