Swastika in american government buildings and historical monuments
Swastika is a 10,000+ year old sacred symbol that has been used in religious ceremonies since millenniums by Hindus, Buddhists and many other civilizations to denote good luck, fortune and prosperity. Last year, I wrote an article on swastika in American buildings and historical monuments. (Read Swastika in american buildings and historical monumnets)
In this article, we will go through swastika in buildings that either belongs to American government or is under the control of American government.
Swastika in Wisconsin Maritime Museum
Wisconsin Maritime Museum of manitowic was known as swastika, meaning ‘wellbeing’ for decades since its construction in 1894. Originally built as a hardware store, left-facing tilted Swastika can be seen at the top front of this building.
Swastika at Wisconsin Maritime Museum
Swastika in Philadelphia museum of art’s
Built in 1928, lee Lawrie came up with the design of this building with beautiful decorative swastika theme. The Entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art has a walkway with a swastika meander pattern. This building was added on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Check for swastika at the bottom
Swastika at Reno post office
Built in 1932 by Frederic Joseph, Reno post office has both right and left-handed swastika. This building is located on Center Street in reno, very close to Truckee river. The task of creating architectural designs of this building was assigned to Frederic Joseph, the chief architect of nevada state. Construction of this building was financed by federal Civil Administration. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Right and left-handed swastika Swastika at Hemet Maze Stone
Swastika at Raton museum
Raton city, better known for Sugarite Canyon, is a historic city with old stores, banks, insurance offices, beautiful theatres. Swastika is found in many buildings of this historic city. Out of many such buildings, Raton museum is the best place to look for Native American swastikas.
Swastika at Lake City, minnesota
Lake City is a small city along Lake Pepin in Wabasha and goodhue counties of minnesota state. Incorporated in 1972, this city is popularly known for its natural resurces, bountiful fresh water fishes and attractive surroundings. This city is also known as “birthplace of waterskiing” since Ralph samuelson, inventor of waterskiing, was born in this city. In the below image, you can see both left facing and right facing swastika at the entrance of the popular picnic spot adjacent to lake city.
Swastika at entrance of picnic spot near Lake City, minnesota
Swastika at Kansas Municipal Auditorium
Kansas municipal auditorium comprises of a multi-purpose facility with three halls: Music Hall, The Arena and Little Theatre. Built in 1936, it was constructed on streamline modern and art deco architectural designs. In 1935, this complex was declared as one of the top ten building complex in the world. Check the left facing swastika design in the below image
Swastika at Kansas Municipal Auditorium
Swastika at Navy Pier, Chicago
Located near the streeterville region of North Chicago, Navy pier is the longest pier (1 km) on the shores of Lake Michigan. Designed by city architect Daniel burnham, this pier was built at a cost of $5 million in 1916. At the time of its construction, it was the largest pier in the world. Even today, it is the topmost tourist destination in Chicago. This pier was used as a base by navy, army, Red Cross and other defense personnel’s during World War 1. Check the Beautifully Swastika carved on this pier in the below image.
Swastika at Chicago Navy Pier
Swastika at Palace of fine arts, California
Another building with swastika in California is Palace of fine arts in marina district of San Francisco city. Built in 1915 in ancient Greek architectural style, this building was originally meant for exhibition of art forms during the 1915 panama pacific exposition. Renovation work was done in 1965 to reconstruct the deteriorating condition of walkways, lagoon and outer walls. Swastika and other decoration were well preserved because of this renovation work.
Swastika at Palace of fine arts, California
Swastika at Penobscot Building, Detroit
Named after a Native American tribe called Penobscot, meaning “the place where the rocks open out”, three Penobscot buildings were constructed in Detroit. First built was the 13 storey building in 1903 followed by a 24 storey building in 1916 and finally a 47 storey building in 1928. At the time of its construction, with 567 feet, it was the fourth tallest building of USA and eight tallest building in the world. Even today, it is the third tallest building in Detroit after being surpassed by 729 foot renaissance tower in 1977 and 623 foot Comerica tower in 1993. Swastika decorated carvings and other architectural designs in this building still seems to be very fresh, attractive and beautiful
Penobscot Building in Detroit, built in 1928.
Swastika at thunderbird hospital, Arizona
North to thunderbird hospital of Arizona lies the Thunderbird Medicine building and to the south lies the Oakeson Physical Therapy building. These two buildings are together called “The Fountains”. Within the campus, there are four swastika shaped buildings that houses many small to mid size laboratories, clinics, offices and diagnostic centers. This swastika shaped buildings can be seen in Google map using this co-ordinates 33.36.48.96 N by 112.10.43.02 W.
Swastika at thunderbird hospital, Arizona
Swastika at Hamilton Building
Built in the early nineteenth century, Hamilton building is one of the few older buildings constructed in ancient architectural styles of different civilizations. You can find south Asian symbols like swastika and sun cross symbol around the windows of the building. At the top, you can see Chinese symbol yin yang. You can also see the Native American headdress sculptures beautifully carved on the top of the building.
Swastika at Hamilton Building
Swastika at American surety building, New York
Built in 1896, American surety building is one of the oldest influential skyscrapers of New York City. Located at 100 Broadway opposite to trinity church; this building with steel frames and curtained walls was designed by renowned architect Bruce price. As seen below, Bruce price used left facing swastika, a sacred symbol of Native Americans, to decorate the outer walls of this buildings.
Swastika at American surety building, New York
Swastika at Orcutt ranch, Los angeles
Built in 1920, Orcutt ranch is a 25 acre park famous for beautiful gardens, oak trees and lush citrus groves. Also known as Rancho Sombra del Roble, meaning “ranch under the shade of oak trees” in Spanish, Orcutt ranch was the retirement residence of petroleum industry tycoon William Orcutt and his wife Mary Orcutt. Original orcutt ranch is said to be 210 acres that included the entire Canoga Park. Since William orcutt was very interested in ancient symbols, architectural designs, arts and crafts, most of the ornamental features in his residence has many architectural symbols and art forms including the Native American swastika. In 1966, Department of Recreation and Parks, Los Angeles, purchased this property and designated it as the public park with extensive gardens, community plots, exotic trees/shrubs/plants/ etc. Swastika is found all across the ranch and so, a board was installed by the Los Angeles department of recreation to inform the general public on historic meaning of swastika.
Swastika board of Orcutt ranch
Swastika at Uptown National Bank, Chicago
Swastika can be found at the metallic staircase of Uptown National Bank building of Chicago. Situated diagonally across the uptown theatre, this bank was built in 1910 and later in 1920, five more floors were added to this building. In addition to this swastika staircase, this bank has a grand banking hall with decorative rose colored ceilings
Staircase of Uptown National Bank, Chicago
Conclusion:
This article is intended to reclaim the lost significance and importance of humanity earliest symbol Swastika. Swastika is derived from the Sanskrit word svastika, "su" meaning "good," "asti” means "to be," and "ka" as a suffix. Swastika signifies the symbol of good luck, prosperity, peace and fortune. After its association with German nazis, this ancient symbol has faced a sad transition from a good luck symbol to symbol of evil and adversity. Swastika is still widely used as a good luck symbol in Asian countries like India, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia etc. This symbol has a sacred spiritual significance in Hinduism and its derived religions like Buddhism and Jainism
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