Unusual state Memorials and Monuments

To honour great presidents, the United States has many impressive national memorials and monuments. For every such famous memorial, there are possibly 100 others in the US honouring bizarre incidents and obscure individuals. Their size and/or design relative to their surroundings or legacy make them stand out. Here are 6 unusual monuments and memorials in the United States.

The Gateway Arch

Standing 630 feet tall, the Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the US and was completed in 1967 to commemorate America’s expansion to the west. Situated in St Louis, it is strikingly different, both in size and design from other monuments, but it is also world famous, and has become such an accepted part of the American landscape that it no longer seems that unusual.

Jefferson Davis Monument

Built between 1917 and 1924 for an estimated $200,000 the Jefferson Davis monument is located in Fairview, Kentucky. The South boasts numerous memorials and monuments to former Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis yet none quite match up to the surreal qualities of this monument. Patterned after the Washington Monument, the memorial towers at 351 feet above the rural countryside, and if you get to the top you can see a view of miles and miles of rural countryside.

Carhenge

It is hard to classify Carhenge as it is so bizarre; however the most suiting is to call it a monument. As you can guess by the name, it is patterned after Stonehenge, a pre-historic monument in England. However, instead of using stones, Carhenge consists of 38 stacked cars covered in grey spray paint. Since construction on the monument began in 1987, Carhenge has drawn tens of thousands of visitors and has been featured in movies and other popular culture, despite its somewhat remote location in Alliance, Nebraska.

San Jacinto Monument 

This monument was built in the 1930’s and stands at a height of 567 feet, making it the tallest monumental column in the world. The monument in La Porte, Texas, near Houston, is a popular tourist attraction as part of the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, where the decisive battle in Texas’ war of independence from Mexico took place.

U.S.S South Dakota

The coasts and harbours of America feature a number of old aircraft carriers, battleships and submarines that now serve as floating memorials to their military veterans. Although Sioux Falls in South Dakota is more than 1,200 miles away from the nearest ocean port, they still have a memorial which served great distinction in the Pacific in World War II. City leaders commissioned a memorial to the ship at a city park. A concrete outline for the ship was made and a propeller, anchor and ships bell were sent by the Navy to create a truly surreal memorial.

Keeper of the Plains

This monument was unveiled in 1974 in Wichita, Kansas to help celebrate the United States bicentennial and to honour Native Americans. The Keeper of the Plains is a leading tourist attraction and popular gathering spot for locals; however it is widely unknown outside of the city. Standing at 44 feet high, a top a 30-foot rock pedestal it is worth a visit during the day, but it is particularly awe-inspiring every night just after sunset, when torches around its base are lit for 15 minutes. 

Strange and Bizarre Gravestones

                We all know about the traditional style gravestones that many of us choose for our loved ones. However, some people have opted for a more unusual style gravestone for their dearly departed; we have compiled a list of the top 5 most bizarre and unusual.

The Mercedes Grave

Owning a 1982 Mercedes Benz 240 Diesel Limousine was always a dream in life for one young boy in New Jersey, who sadly had his life cut short at the age of 15. His wealthy bug brother commissioned a 26-ton granite full size sculpture for his memorial, which is a very touching and unique way to remember the boy.

The Davis Memorial

This monument is for a lady in Kansas and was built by her grief stricken widower in 1930. After she dies he spent every penny he had on her memorial, erecting life like statues and having overstuffed chairs flown in from Italy. The memorial that he created has now brought a lot of money in for the city, as he unknowingly built a tourist attraction.

Cemetery Home

In Brooklyn, one man created a home around the casket of his wife. He added an empty casket for himself in the future, so he would be able to lie next to his wife. He also added furniture, a wood stove, paintings and decoration. Upon the passing of the man, 7,000 people stopped by to view the remarkable gravestone.

The Wheelchair Monument

This unique and touching monument shows a young boy jumping upward and out of his wheelchair. As he was confined to the chair for most of his young life, the monument now represents that he is free from earthly burdens.

An Actors Grave

There is a very unique gravestone of a musician and actor who died in 1990 and was buried in the Pere Lachaise, in Paris, France. He wished to gaze                                               at the face of his wife for eternity.

There are many more unusual and unique ways you can create a gravestone for your loved ones, which provide a more personal touch for your loved ones and may even become a tourist attraction. 

A cremation Urn doesn’t have to be plainly designed and ordinary...

As the name suggests, a cremation urn is a container that is meant to hold the cremated remains of the deceased. There are many different standard forms of urn, such as ceramic, granite, glass or biodegradable. However, with custom companies creating unique urns, it is becoming more common to add a personal touch to this keepsake item.

These urns are hardly anything close to the traditional urns that people usually purchase. Here is a list of some of the most unusual but individual urns, which could even possibly help you if you are looking for a bold, out of the box idea for memorialising your loved ones.

• A Ghost Urn.

A ghost shaped Urn can be a nice eternal resting place for those who had a sense of humour. They are time capsule inspired and have a modular design. They look good as white porcelain, but can also be made out of silver, gold and bronze.

• Martini Glass Urn

A martini glass is just one example of urns shaped into beverages, from a beer to a martini  glass, some of which, titled ‘companion glasses’ are big enough to store the remains of a loving couple. They tend to be made from glass or maple and are painted in the style of the drink.

• Huggabe Urns

Cremation urns generally create a feeling of uneasiness, especially with younger children. Turning these into huggable shapes, a teddy for example, can be much more accepting. The bears and teddies can also be personalised with accessories belonging to your loved ones such as a blanket or an item of clothing.

Star Trek Cremation Urn

An incredible way to memorialise a true Star Trek fan, would be to use a 23^rd Century stainless steel and wood design which features the Trademark Starfleet Delta Insignia detail, and shall serve as a family heirloom for generations.

• An Hourglass Keepsake Urn

An interesting twist on a standard urn would be an Hourglass Keepsake Urn. With this, you would fill it with cremated ashes as opposed to sand, creating a lovely symbol of the passage of time in every person’s life. If you and a loved one would like to share an hourglass, your ashes can be mixed into a single urn.

• Severed Head Urn.

Possibly the most bizarre Urn would be that of a severed head. The head can either be a likeness of the person deceased, a favourite star or anyone else for that matter. The head is created using an image of the desired person along with 3D imaging techniques. The head is then mounted onto a marble base. With this you can either have a full size Urn for storing the remains of an adult or a keepsake Urn, which tends to be smaller.