A sculpture by a ‘Monuments Man’ is dedicated at 30th Street Station on this week in Philly history
Walker Kirtland Hancock, a renowned Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduate and instructor, played a pivotal role in preserving Europe's cultural heritage during World War II as a member of the Monuments Men.
Hancock's journey took him from the battlefields to the countryside, where he recovered stolen art from hidden locations such as caves, castles, and hospitals. One of his most notable discoveries was made 1,800 feet deep in a salt mine in Bernterode, Germany, where he found a valuable collection of art and treasures, including a painting by Jean-Antoine Watteau and the art collection of Frederick the Great.
Today, Hancock's public works can be found across the United States, including his notable Statue to War Dead at 30th Street Station, which commemorates the 1,307 employees of the Pennsylvania Railroad who died during World War II.