Memorial institution

African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial

The memorial was created to honor African American Medal of Honor recipients across conflicts from the Civil War through Vietnam. The archive records one collective memorial relationship and two specific sculptural recipient relationships for Carney and Olive. These are commemorative representations, not assertions that either original medal or personal artifact is held at the park.

MOH-MUS-000145Evidence reviewed 2026-10-11Open to the public

African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial in Wilmington.Photo: Moonloop Photography; Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau · Source-attributed destination image; owner-directed archive use ↗ · Source ↗

Historical context

About this institution

The African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial occupies a public setting in Brandywine/Todd Memorial Park at West 18th Street and Baynard Boulevard. Commissioned in 1989 by Sgt. Wilson K. Smith with sculptor Charles Parks and dedicated in 1998, it combines recipient-name plaques with bronze figures that represent Civil War recipient William Harvey Carney and Vietnam War recipient Milton Lee Olive III.

Why it matters to Medal of Honor research

The memorial provides a focused public history of African American valor and links collective recipient recognition with two identifiable sculptural figures. Its marker record, organization history, destination image, and geotag create a well-bounded visitor record without converting commemorative art into artifact-custody evidence.

Collection guide

What to look for

The following highlights summarize the strongest verified reasons to include this institution in the archive. They are a planning guide, not a promise that every object is on view at all times.

Memorial plaques naming African American recipients

William Harvey Carney sculptural figure

Milton Lee Olive III sculptural figure

Charles Parks design dedicated in 1998

Verified connections

Medal of Honor relationships

3 total

Collective Medal of Honor memorial

African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial

The Wilmington memorial was commissioned to honor African American Medal of Honor recipients and was erected and dedicated in 1998. Its plaques and sculpture provide collective public commemoration from the Civil War through the Vietnam War; the site is not represented as a repository for original medals.

Record: Brandywine/Todd Memorial Park plaques and sculpture

Verified 2026-10-11 · Permanent

Evidence sources and scope

African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial ↗The Historical Marker Database
NABVETS Delaware Chapter memorial history and commemorative use ↗NABVETS via PR Newswire
African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial plaque record ↗National War Memorial Registry

Collective memorial record supported by marker, organization, and registry evidence; no artifact-custody inference.

Recipient statue and memorial

William Harvey Carney

The memorial’s sculptural group includes a bronze figure representing William Harvey Carney, created as part of Charles Parks’s public tribute to African American Medal of Honor recipients. The figure is commemorative artwork and does not imply that William Harvey Carney’s original Medal of Honor or personal artifacts are held at the park.

Record: Charles Parks bronze figure

Verified 2026-10-11 · Permanent

Evidence sources and scope

African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial ↗The Historical Marker Database

Named sculptural representation documented by the memorial marker record; not original-medal custody.

Recipient statue and memorial

Milton Lee Olive III

The memorial’s sculptural group includes a bronze figure representing Milton Lee Olive III, created as part of Charles Parks’s public tribute to African American Medal of Honor recipients. The figure is commemorative artwork and does not imply that Milton Lee Olive III’s original Medal of Honor or personal artifacts are held at the park.

Record: Charles Parks bronze figure

Verified 2026-10-11 · Permanent

Evidence sources and scope

African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial ↗The Historical Marker Database

Named sculptural representation documented by the memorial marker record; not original-medal custody.

Collection focus

Historical specialties

African American Medal of Honor historyRecipient-name memorial plaquesWilliam Harvey Carney bronze figureMilton Lee Olive III bronze figure

Service connections

U.S. Army

Conflict connections

U.S. Civil War · Vietnam War

Visitor planning

Find the outdoor memorial in Brandywine/Todd Memorial Park near West 18th Street and Baynard Boulevard. Because the site is a public park rather than a staffed museum, visitors should check local park conditions, parking, accessibility, and event notices before travel.

West 18th Street at Baynard Boulevard
Wilmington, Delaware, 19802
United States

Open location in OpenStreetMap ↗Official website ↗Current visitor information ↗Collection or exhibit information ↗

The site is an outdoor public memorial without a staffed museum desk.
The Carney and Olive relationships describe bronze representations, not original medals or personal artifacts.
The map point is the published memorial geotag at Brandywine/Todd Memorial Park.
Use current Wilmington park and street information for parking and accessibility.

Admission prices, opening schedules, installation rules, and object availability are left to the institution because they can change.

Access status

Open to the public

Map point: 39.7549833, -75.5468167 · Verified Hmdb Geotag

Institution sources

African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial ↗The Historical Marker Database · Priority 4
NABVETS Delaware Chapter memorial history and commemorative use ↗NABVETS via PR Newswire · Priority 3
Delaware African American Medal of Honor Memorial visitor photograph ↗Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau · Priority 3
African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial plaque record ↗National War Memorial Registry · Priority 5

Archive standard

“Original Medal of Honor” relationships require direct source evidence. A location record is not described as a current public display unless the institution confirms display status.