The granite and marble monument was dedicated in 1893 honors the soldiers from New York who died at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.

[2] Following the war, the state erected many monuments and memorials honoring their soldiers who died in the battle.

[4] The stonework was executed by the Hallowell Granite Works, while the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company cast the bronze-works.

[4] The statue at the top is of a woman, resembling one of the women found in the Coat of arms of New York,[2] holding flowers for the dead in one hand and a staff in the other.

A plaque on the rear of the base bears the names of officers from the state who died at Gettysburg.

[2] In total, this base, made of Hallowell granite, measures approximately 27 feet 8 inches (8.43 m) tall.

[2] The column, which issculpted from Fox Island granite,[5] rises approximately 33 feet (10 m) tall and is made up of four sections.