Missouri Could Get Statue of African American Union Soldier

A bronze statue of an African American Civil War-era Union soldier could be placed in southeastern Missouri.

The Southeast Missourian reports that the statue would be located in Cape Girardeau’s Ivers Square to honor the area’s former slaves who joined the Union Army.

The project is spearheaded by Denise Lincoln and Steven Hoffman. Lincoln has researched the city’s history of African Americans joining the army. Hoffman is a history professor and coordinator of Southeast Missouri State University’s historic preservation program.

Lincoln told the City Council Monday that they hope to privately raise the $60,000 needed for the project.

Lincoln says that the park doesn’t recognize the “significance and contribution of our population of color” despite its memorials honoring Union and Confederate soldiers.

More than 200 African Americans enlisted in the Cape Girardeau Union Army from 1863-64.