San Francisco, California, Mt. Davidson Cross
| Subject: | The victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. (view image) |
| Type of Memorial: | Commemorative Plaque, Inscription, Park, Path |
| Sponsor(s): | Council of Armenian-American Organizations of Northern California & Armenian-American community of San Francisco. |
| Architect/Designer/Artist: | Designed and built by George Kelham. |
| Placement: | Freestanding sculpture in a public park with a plaque at the foot of a large concrete cross. |
| Physical Setting: | The sculpture is on top of a mountain/hill, overlooking the city. |
| Tourist Amenities: | Yes |
| Map Designation: | Mt. Davidson Park |
| Physical Condition: | Well preserved. |
| Inscription: | "If evil of this magnitude can be ignored, if our own children forget then we deserve oblivion and earn the world's scorn." Avedis Aharonian (writer and educator, 1866-1948) Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day April 24, 1998” Inscription: the Armenian language version of the poem by Avedis Aharonian, which appears on the plaque alongside the English translation by Diana Der-Hovanessian |
| Location: | Mt. Davidson Park San Francisco, California United States |
| Construction Began: | Early 1930s |
| Construction Completed: | 1934 |
| Dedication Date: | 1934 |
| Renovation Date: | 1997 - 1998 |
| Prior Use of Site: | Mt. Davidson Park. |
| Development/Construction Process: | The monument is a 100 ft.cross. A commemorative plaque rests at its base. In 1997, the citizens of San Francisco approved the sale of the monument to the Council of Armenian-American Organizations of Northern California, to preserve it as a historic landmark. Following the change in ownership, a plaque was added and set at the foot of the cross in memory of the victims. |
| History of Ownership: | From 1934 - 1937: owned by the city of San Francisco From 1997 – present: owned by Council of Armenian-American Organizations of Northern California. |
| Commemorative Activities: | Inauguration of Monument by President Franklin D. Roosevelt: 1934. Inauguration of Genocide plaque: March 8, 1998. Annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on April 24. |
| Additional Information: | Editorial Broad of Armenian Encyclopedia. The Armenian Question. Yerevan: 1996. Kidd, Kristen. "Perpetual Reminders," Armenian International Magazine (April 1999), pp. 48-50. |
Click on an image for a detailed view.
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