Top of page

Notice
Monday, February 16, 2026: For the President's Day holiday, The Library will open under normal operating hours.

Photo, Print, Drawing Sommepy Monument, Blanc Mont Ridge, Sommepy, Departement de la Marne (France), FR Somme-Py Monument

[ Data Pages from Survey HABS US-7  ]

About this Item

Title

  • Sommepy Monument, Blanc Mont Ridge, Sommepy, Departement de la Marne (France), FR

Other Title

  • Somme-Py Monument

Names

  • Historic American Buildings Survey, creator
  • Harmon, Arthur Loomis
  • Cret, Paul Philippe
  • U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA)
  • U.S. Department of War
  • U.S. American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
  • M. Rateau
  • Greber, Jacques
  • Ste. des Marbres, Pierres & Granits
  • Collins, S. L.
  • Jennewein
  • Menconi, R. E.
  • H. Rouard
  • Laurent & Savey Moisant
  • Lavoie, Catherine C., historian
  • American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), sponsor
  • McPartland, Mary, transmitter

Created / Published

  • Documentation compiled after 1933

Headings

  • -  architectural sculpture
  • -  war (World War I)
  • -  monuments & memorials
  • -  Art Moderne architectural elements
  • -  observation decks
  • -  towers
  • -  commemoration
  • -  France--Departement De La Marne (France)--Sommepy

Latitude / Longitude

  • 49.284178,4.536222

Notes

  • -  Significance: Sommepy Monument was erected between 1929 and 1932 under the auspices of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) as one of the most elaborate of eight "historical" monuments built to commemorate the services of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. Sommepy honors the American and French soldiers who fought together in the Champagne region of France between July 15 and October 27, 1918, including the American 2nd, 36th, 42nd, and 93rd divisions. The monument is located on the ridge of Blanc Mont, a key point in the German defenses that was captured by the American 2nd Division on October 3 after a heroic and bloody battle. The monument was designed by New York architect Arthur Loomis Harmon, chosen as one of ABMC's "up and coming" young architects. The selection of Arthur Loomis Harmon as architect was likely motivated by his recent acclaim as a pioneer in the area of skyscraper development with his design for the Shelton Hotel, completed in 1924. The Shelton is widely recognized as one of the first and finest expressions of the new stepped or "setback" form for skyscrapers that resulting from the New York City's landmark zoning law of 1916. Setbacks were an important innovation that prevented tall structures from blocking light and air to city streets, thus establishing a new design standard. When completed, the Shelton Hotel was the highest residential structure in the world. At the same time that Harmon was working on Sommepy Monument, he and his partners at Shreve, Lamb & Harmon were undertaking the design and construction of New York City's iconic Empire State Building. For Sommepy Monument, Harmon crafted a concrete and limestone lookout tower rising to an open observation platform and set on an elevated terrace. The tower is evocatively situated to take advantage of the viewshed of the former battlefield and the remnants of the German trenches and dugouts that encircle it, adding to the visual and associative impact of the site. Architecturally, the monument is a fine example of the use of stark, modern interpretations of classical forms favored by the ABMC for their building program. Ashlar stonework and shallow recessed center panels add dimension to the austere façades, three of which are pierced by narrow apertures to light the interior stairway. Set against otherwise severe facades are sculptural reliefs in the form of unit insignia, classical symbols of victory and strength, and the American eagle that appears on the primary elevation. Cut-out patterns in the parapet walls of the lookout present stylized images of the armaments of modern warfare. Sommepy Monument was part of a larger program of commemoration established by the ABMC and led by Chairman General John J. Pershing and Consulting Architect Paul Philippe Cret, along with the Commission of Fine Arts. The program called for three large "commemorative" monuments and eight more modest "historical" monuments that together honor American participation in World War I. The commemorative monuments mark the sites of the largest and most decisive American battles while the historical monuments honor important but less crucial campaign areas, those executed under allied command, and those providing naval and supply services to demonstrate America's widespread influence. The battle at Blanc Mont that began on October 3, 1918 was the most decisive American victory within the Champagne sector, forcing the German army from the region. Following a successful campaign by the American 42nd and French forces near Souain in mid-July, the allies began a follow-up offensive in late September. The American 2nd Division came to the aid of the French at Blanc Mont and a bloody battle ensued. With the support of assault tanks they successfully drove out the Germans entrenched on the hill. During their assault, they captured 2,011 enemy prisoners and a substantial amount of weaponry, while losing 4,973 men. The allies continued to expel the Germans from the region, penetrating their defense line at St. Étienne-à-Arnes. On October 6, the 2nd Division was relieved by the 36th Division who over the course of a three-week battle drove the Germans across the Aisne River. In the meantime, between September 26 and October 6, the 93rd Division of African American troops under French command fought to the east, capturing the villages of Ripont, Séchault , Ardeuil, Monfauxelles, and Trières Farm.
  • -  Survey number: HABS US-7
  • -  Building/structure dates: 1929-1932 Initial Construction
  • -  Building/structure dates: 1947 Subsequent Work

Medium

  • Data Page(s): 49

Call Number/Physical Location

  • HABS US-7

Source Collection

  • Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)

Repository

Control Number

  • us0019

Rights Advisory

Online Format

  • pdf

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material.

Ultimately, it is the researcher's obligation to assess copyright or other use restrictions and obtain permission from third parties when necessary before publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the Library's collections.

For information about reproducing, publishing, and citing material from this collection, as well as access to the original items, see: Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscape Survey (HABS/HAER/HALS) Collection - Rights and Restrictions Information

  • Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted. https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html
  • Reproduction Number: ---
  • Call Number: HABS US-7
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

If Digital Images Are Displaying

You can download online images yourself. Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

HABS/HAER/HALS materials have generally been scanned at high resolution that is suitable for most publication purposes (see Digitizing the Collection for further details about the digital images).

  • Photographs--All photographs are printed from digital files to preserve the fragile originals.
    • Make note of the Call Number and Item Number that appear under the photograph in the multiple-image display (e.g., HAER, NY,52-BRIG,4-2).
    • If possible, include a printout of the photograph.
  • Drawings--All drawings are printed from digital files to preserve the fragile originals.
    • Make note of the Survey Number (e.g., HAER NY - 143) and Sheet Number (e.g., "Sheet 1 of 4"), which appear on the edge of the drawing. (NOTE: These numbers are visible in the Tiff "Reference Image" display.)
    • If possible, include a printout of the drawing.
  • Data Pages
    • Make note of the Call Number in the catalog record.

If Digital Images Are Not Displaying

In the rare case that a digital image for HABS/HAER/HALS documentation is not displaying online, select images for reproduction through one of these methods:

  • Visit the Prints & Photographs Reading Room and request to view the group (general information about service in the reading room is available at: https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/info/001_ref.html). It is best to contact reference staff in advance (see: https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/address.html) to make sure the material is on site. OR
  • P&P reading room staff can provide up to 15 quick copies of items per calendar year (many original items in the holdings are too old or fragile to make such copies, but generally HABS/HAER/HALS materials are in good enough condition to be placed on photocopy machines). For assistance, see our Ask a Librarian page OR
  • Hire a freelance researcher to do further selection for you (a list of researchers in available at: https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/resource/013_pic.html).
  • You can purchase copies of various types, including quick copies, through Library of Congress Duplication Services (price lists, contact information, and order forms for Library of Congress Duplication Services are available on the Duplication Services Web site):
    • Make note of the Call Number listed above.
    • Look at the Medium field above. If it lists more than one item:
      • The entire group can be ordered as photocopies or high-quality copies.
      • All the items in a particular medium (e.g., all drawings, all photographs) can be ordered as photocopies or high-quality copies.

Access to Originals

Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm.

  1. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)

    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
      As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)
    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.

  2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

    • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.
    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
  3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and 5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Historic American Buildings Survey, Creator, Arthur Loomis Harmon, Paul Philippe Cret, U.S. Commission Of Fine Arts, U.S. Department Of War, U.S. American Expeditionary Forces, M. Rateau, et al. Sommepy Monument, Blanc Mont Ridge, Sommepy, Departement de la Marne France, FR. France Departement De La Marne Sommepy, 1933. translateds by Mcpartland, Marymitter Documentation Compiled After. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/us0019/.

APA citation style:

Historic American Buildings Survey, C., Harmon, A. L., Cret, P. P., U.S. Commission Of Fine Arts, U.S. Department Of War, U.S. American Expeditionary Forces [...] American Battle Monuments Commission, S. (1933) Sommepy Monument, Blanc Mont Ridge, Sommepy, Departement de la Marne France, FR. France Departement De La Marne Sommepy, 1933. McPartland, M., trans Documentation Compiled After. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/us0019/.

MLA citation style:

Historic American Buildings Survey, Creator, et al. Sommepy Monument, Blanc Mont Ridge, Sommepy, Departement de la Marne France, FR. trans by Mcpartland, Marymitter Documentation Compiled After. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/us0019/>.