Secondary sourceSculpture1818

Tadeusz Kościuszko Monument in Janów Lubelski

1818

An 1818 obelisk in Janów Lubelski, Poland, one of the earliest monuments ever raised to Kościuszko.

One of the earliest monuments built to honor Kościuszko, erected the year after his death.

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A tall grey granite obelisk stands in a park surrounded by green trees, on a stepped stone base with a dark plaque. Red and white flowers in black vases and small candles sit on the steps. — Tadeusz Kościuszko Monument, Janów Lubelski, Poland, 1818.

About this source

What it is

This is a tall granite obelisk set on a stepped stone base, standing in a park in Janów Lubelski, Poland. It was erected in 1818, the year after Kościuszko's death, making it one of the very first monuments built anywhere in his honour.

Why it matters

The speed with which this monument appeared shows how quickly Kościuszko became a symbol of Polish national pride and resistance, even while Poland itself did not exist as an independent state. Monuments like this kept his memory alive for later generations fighting for independence.

Look closer

Why might a community choose to honour a national hero so soon after his death?
What does the location of a monument tell us about who wanted to remember Kościuszko, and why?
What is missing from a stone monument that a letter or diary might tell us?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Tadeusz Kościuszko on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.