Join Monumental Gestures for the first public conversation of The Monument Knows, a new public humanities and civic research project exploring the histories, meanings, and future possibilities of Monument Circle and the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis.

This inaugural conversation features Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, cultural critic, and scholar Salamishah Tillet alongside Indianapolis-based cultural researcher and public historian Jordan Ryan. Together, they will explore how monuments shape civic identity, collective memory, and public life. Tillet will discuss the role monuments play in American culture and public discourse, while Ryan will offer historical insights into Monument Circle’s evolving significance in Indianapolis. The conversation will be moderated by Daniel Luis Martinez (Director of the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program).

Developed by Monumental Gestures in partnership with Merritt Chase, with support from the Mellon Foundation, The Monument Knows invites residents to engage with one of Indianapolis’ most iconic public spaces through conversation, research, and storytelling. The project asks a simple but deep question: What does the monument know?

Following the conversation, attendees are invited to join a group walk around Monument Circle and the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, led by expert guides from Indiana Landmarks, and then enjoy the evening at SPARK on the Circle.

This event is part of a four-part public conversation series and an opportunity to reconsider Monument Circle as a living civic space where history, memory, and the future remain in active conversation. Learn more at askthemonument.org.