Butt-Millet Memorial Fountain, DC
In 1913, a memorial fountain was dedicated at President's Park in memory of two United States officials who drowned on the RMS Titanic. Francis Millet, who served on the Commission of Fine Arts and took part in the design of the National Mall, and Archibald Butt, a Major in the U.S. Army and a presidential military aide, were popular, well-respected men. The two were close companions; they shared a house for many years and are widely believed to have been romantically involved with one another. Returning to the U.S. after travelling together in Europe, the two were aboard the Titanic when it struck an iceberg and sank into the Atlantic Ocean.
Following the news of the two deaths, the Senate and House passed a joint resolution to construct a memorial in their honor. President Taft also supported the memorial effort. As a colleague and an advisor, he held Archibald Butt in particularly high esteem.
It took me an extra-long time to find the Millet side
of the fountain (right). I wonder why that is?
of the fountain (right). I wonder why that is?
Archibald Butt / Francis Millet
From the same source as above, I ran across this interesting and noteworthy story of two people with a Portland, OR connection...
Expressions as Diverse as the Landscape: The Selling Building, Portland, OR
You seem to have had no trouble finding Butt.
ReplyDeleteHaving lived in DC for many years I was wondering why this one wasn't familiar, so I googled it and saw that it's in the essentially closed part south of the White House. Various "security threats" over the years have made the area around The Elipse less than friendly for casual visitors. You can still get through there on foot, but the Secret Service isn't shy about closing it off, either.
ReplyDeleteFascinating. I wonder what it was like growing up a Butt.
ReplyDeleteWill - What a new world we live in.
ReplyDelete