Page:Final Report of the Northwest Territory Celebration Commission.pdf/52

 And so, the memorial to the "Start Westward of the United States" came into actual being., vais It consists of a group of five figures in heroic size, symbolic of the nation's start westward. Esplanades from the Muskingum River to the street and surrounding the group, along with four massive inscribed pylons on Front Street complete the memorial. These inscriptions are:

"The Ordinance of 1787 contained the United States' first governmental recognition of the 'Rights of Men'. Not included in the Constitution originally adopted, they were later added until all of them are now part of our organic law.

Here the new United States of America found, through Northwest Territory, the first and common offspring of thirteen discordant and disputatious states, her formula to eminence among all the governments of mankind.

Here, with the founding of the nation's first colony and establishment of the first American civil government west of the thirteen original states, began the march of the United States of America across a continent to the western sea.

To those unfamed citizens who conceived a new purpose and direction for this nation in its making; and whose insistence upon incorporation of the Rights of Men into our fundamental law, set the pattern for America's contribution to the governmental progress of humanity."

The native sandstone from near the quarry dedicated by the pioneers "forever to public use" is used throughout.

In effect the park constitutes the grounds to the memorial, some 1,700 feet long and two hundred feet wide.

Even in its incompleted form the group was visited by as high as four thousand people per day (not one of the big days during the celebration).

In addition to the national memorial at Marietta, provision was made by the commission at its July 1938 meeting that such balance as might remain in its funds should be expended for memorials in the States of the Territory other than Ohio. The type and style was to be determined by the commission members from each State.

Bronze tablets, 24 × 30 inches in size have been agreed upon for this purpose, and at the time this report is written it appears that two and perhaps three tablets will be erected in each State, and at points important in Northwest Territory history.

Among the by-products of the Celebration which are of lasting value and interest to future generations are the twelve mural paintings which constitute the decorative motif for the walls of the new City Hall in Marietta.

These were executed by, the artist who painted the huge murals in the Ohio State Exhibit at Century of Progress Exposition, and who is famous for historic exactitude in his work.

Probably these paintings present the best collection extant of early scenes in the settlement of Old Northwest Territory.

While not concerned with the exact period of the celebration,