There are numerous monuments scattered throughout the Texas State Capital Complex grounds including this bronze statue of a sentry of the Spanish American War (1891-1902). This is the work of sculptor Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson and was erected in 1951. What you will see is a middle aged sentry in period attire, hat and holding old musket rifle while looking forward. He stands upon a red granite pedestal with medallion and information plaque. It is an interesting depiction of a soldier who were called Hikers during the war.

Among the smaller monuments in the Capitol State Grounds, also called the Texas Confederate Memorial Lawn, the Hiker Monument is a testament to the Veterans of both the Spanish-American War and Philippine's Insurrection. Set back into well cut bushes, the statue is of a lone sentry with a circular brimmed hat and musket rifle staring off into the distance. A single brass cross with a circular tablet in its center bears the name of Cuba - Puerto Rico - Philippine Island - USA on each of the crosses end points. The engraving at its center appears to be a woman kneeling with her arms spread out in...gratitude? We weren't really sure what if it represented subservience to the soldiers around her or gratitude at liberation.Regardless, the monument is not as grandiose in size or scope as many of the others adorning the state grounds. It is worth a look toward the beginning of a self-guided tour through the grounds (probably after the Tejano's monument) to get yourself into a proper context of how fighting, in what would one day be the Texas territory, evolved.