A figure stood atop a tall spire in the center of San Francisco's Union Square.

A message on the side of the spire read:

Secretary of the Navy
John D Long
To
Commodore
George Dewey
April 24 1898
War has commenced
between the United
States and Spain.
Proceed at once
to the Philippines
Islands and capture
or Destroy
the Spanish Fleet.

On another face of the spire was another sign that read in part:

American Squadron

. . .
On May Fourteenth
MCMIII This Monument
Was Dedicated by President
Theodore Roosevelt.

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Union Square Spire   •  San Francisco California Nikon D300S Camera Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) (A14) Nikon Lens   •  (Photo taken 09:48:03 Sunday 5 October 2025)   •  (Photo posted Sunday 9 November 2025)   •  © 2025 Bryan Costales #C25_3261
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A third face on the spire read:

Erected By
The Citizens Of
San Francisco
To Commemorate
The Victory of
The American Navy
Under Commodore
George Dewey at
Manila Bay May
First MDCCCXCVIII

* * *

On May Twenty
Third MCMI The
Ground For This
Monument Was Broken
By President
William McKinley

The Goddess of Victory stood atop the spire on fancy stone-work.

The Goddess of Victory stood with one foot on a ball, and held up a trident.