California Volunteers was originally installed at the intersection of Market and Van Ness,[3] per the request of the sponsoring committee of citizens and the sculptor.

This committee and the sculptor, Douglas Tilden, are unanimous in favor of locating this, the most important of our public monuments, at the junction of Van Ness avenue and Market street.

[7][8] The central figure depicts Bellona, goddess of war, riding on the back of Pegasus, the winged horse.

One side of the pedestal is inscribed with the text "Erected by the Citizens of San Francisco in Honor of the California Volunteers, Spanish–American War, 1898.

[8] Shortly after its dedication in August 1906, Will Sparks criticized the original placement of the monument at Market and Van Ness, stating "from many points of view, including one of the most important, the [silhouette] is absolutely meaningless.