“He fought wars for freedom not for conquest.” This powerful phrase is inscribed on the base of the Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument. It encapsulates the spirit of the Italian hero we honor today.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument stands here in Garibaldi Park. It serves as a tribute to a remarkable man. Giuseppe Garibaldi was a military and political figure. He is considered one of Italy’s “fathers of the fatherland.” As an army general, he commanded many military campaigns. These campaigns led to the formation of a unified Italy.
Chicago’s Italian community has always revered Garibaldi. He was known as a “Redshirt” military strategist. His volunteers famously wore red shirts instead of uniforms.
In 1901, an Italian-American group called Legione Garibaldi raised $12,000. They wanted a statue to commemorate their national hero. The Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument was unveiled on Columbus Day 1901. Despite the rainy weather, about 2,000 people gathered in Lincoln Park for the ceremony.
The parade began downtown. It proceeded north along Dearborn Avenue to the monument. The celebration culminated in patriotic music and speeches. The president of the Legione Garibaldi and the vice president of the Lincoln Park Commission spoke.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument has moved several times. It was originally in Lincoln Park near old Lake Shore Drive, now Cannon Drive. The monument was moved twice more within Lincoln Park. In the 1930s, Italian-Americans requested a better location for their annual Garibaldi birthday celebration.
In the mid-1970s, prominent Chicagoans like Oscar D’Angelo wanted the statue moved to Little Italy. In 1979, McClaren Park was renamed Garibaldi Park. Three years later, in 1982, the bronze sculpture was placed on a new granite pedestal here.
The original sixty-three-ton stone base was left behind in Lincoln Park. It remains there today without a sculpture. New York sculptor Victor Gherardi created the bronze statue. It portrays Garibaldi as a stern and self-confident man. He stands with arms folded and a cape over his shoulders.
Garibaldi’s story is one of courage. He fought for freedom. He unified a nation. The Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument serves as a reminder of his legacy. It stands as a symbol of the Italian-American community’s pride. It also honors the ongoing struggle for liberty and justice.