(Images courtesy of Washington State Archives.)

One of the most recognized monuments on the Capitol Campus is now a still-good-looking 75 years old.

The Winged Victory Monument was dedicated on May 30, 1938. The bronze monument with the granite base honors those who served in World War I. Four inscriptions are found on the monument:

East face: WA State Seal, “To the memory of the citizens of the State of Washington who lost their lives in the service of the United States during the World War 1917 – 1918”,

North face: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend”

West face: “Their sacrifice was to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world”

South face: “They fought to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy.”

In honor of the milestone, we’re featuring two images of the monument that are found in our  State Archives. The top photo, with the Legislative Building in the background, was taken around 1940. It’s found in the Archives’ collection of Progress Commission Photographs, 1937-1945. The bottom image is a postcard of the monument’s dedication ceremony in 1938.