Russell A. Alger Memorial, Detroit

The Russell A. Alger Memorial Fountain, located on the east side of Detroit's Grand Circus Park, is a tribute to one of Michigan’s most notable figures, Russell A. Alger (1836–1907). Unveiled on July 27, 1921, the fountain is considered one of the most successful collaborations between sculptor Daniel Chester French and architect Henry Bacon, the duo renowned for designing the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Beaux-Arts monument features a seven-foot bronze figure symbolizing Michigan, with one hand raised in greeting and the other holding a sword and shield bearing the state crest. A bas-relief of Alger, framed by laurel wreaths, adorns the base, which also has lion heads as water founts and the inscription: "Russell A. Alger — Soldier — Statesman — Citizen — 1836–1907."

Russell Alger, a Civil War veteran who rose to general, served as Michigan’s Governor (1885–1887), U.S. Senator, and Secretary of War under President McKinley. A successful lumber baron and railroad executive, he played a key role in Michigan's growth. After he died in 1907, Civil War veterans commissioned a memorial. Delays over its location were resolved, and the fountain was completed in Grand Circus Park in 1921.

Sculptor Daniel Chester French, famed for works like the Minute Man statue, and architect Henry Bacon, a master of classical monuments and 1923 AIA Gold Medal recipient, collaborated on the fountain. The Gorham Manufacturing Company cast the bronze statue, with Presbey-Leland Memorials as contractors.

Today, the Russell A. Alger Memorial Fountain stands as a testament to Alger’s legacy and the artistic brilliance of French and Bacon.