The Monument Knows is a one-year initiative to explore Indianapolis’s Monument Circle as a vibrant public space where the American story is brought to life. With grant funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Monumental Gestures is embarking on a process to learn what the monument means to the people who live here today, what it meant historically, and which stories might be told about it in the future.

A key research tool of the project is the development of a custom artificial intelligence model that will enable the iconic Soldiers & Sailors Monument to “speak”, sharing layered histories, archival photography, and public memory from multiple perspectives. With dedicated research partners, Monumental Gestures will gather knowledge, explore ethical approaches to AI, and work to build an accessible model that aligns with how we learn today. To grow a community invested in the future of the Circle, we will host four public conversations in 2026, featuring visiting national scholars and local leaders. Each event will be an exploration of Monument Circle’s history, seeking to integrate expanded histories and community voices into future planning. 

This work is being completed in partnership with landscape architecture firm Merritt Chase, as they develop a public realm plan for the Circle’s future use as part of their Emerson Collective Fellowship.

This work is inspired by the America 250 celebrations, reconnecting with the city’s central monument and interrogating what we actually know–and would like to know–about it.

The Monument knows a great deal.
What will you ask it?