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Spirit of 98 Statehouse Statue

Doughboy Statue

The Doughboy Statue was erected in 1930, the work of Arthur Ivone and marks Ohio's participation in the World War I. Referring to rank and file soldiers as "doughboys" is closely associated with World War I but the term goes back further and has several possible explanations. The most common of these explanations is that the large buttons on the men’s uniforms looked like the doughy dumplings eaten in soup. A sweeter story is that the name is connected to the enthusiasm that soldiers had for fried dough-doughnuts!

The inscription at the base reads:

 

To Justice in War

And

Lasting Peace After Victory

1917 — 1918

Dedicated June 23, 1928

 

The phrase "Lasting Peace After Victory" was a turn on President Woodrow Wilson's phrase, "Peace Without Victory" that he used in an argument to keep America out of the Great War. His belief that we could achieve peace through negotiations and diplomacy was the only way to achieve a lasting peace. At the beginning of his 2nd term as President, Wilson was forced by Germany's desire to involve Japan and Mexico in the Great War to fight against America.

Among the most prominent features of the Ohio Statehouse and Capitol Square is the symbolism found in the historic statues, monuments and markers expressing the ways different generations of Ohioans have understood their history and own experiences, and how they wished to be remembered.

Statehouse Statues

Surrounding the Ohio Statehouse are numerous statues and monuments. As part of a new program, you can telephone the statues and they will tell you in some detail about the subject. Here are the numbers:

The Ohio Statehouse is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.

Read also:

Touring the Ohio Statehouse

Timeline of the Ohio Statehouse

Ohio Statehouse and Abraham Lincoln

Ohio Statehouse Weddings