There are many famous monuments in the United States-the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, Mount Rushmore. If you look around, you'll see monuments everywhere-

• in small towns and big cities.
• in parks and cemeteries.
• along city streets and highways.
• even on mountainsides.

Monuments help tell the story of a people. They define a nation's values and help preserve its memories. The word monument comes from Latin words that mean, "that which reminds." They are public reminders of who we are and where we have come from. A monument says "pay attention, this is a bit of our past that deserves our respect." Some people think of monuments and the grounds around them as sacred places. Others view them as art forms.

One great age of monument building in the United States was the last half of the 19th century, after the Civil War. Another era of monument building began at the end of the 20th century, and it continues today. America has monuments to pay tribute to and remember various people, places, events, wars, even ideals. For example, a new monument on the site of the former World Trade Center in New York City might be built.

Many people think that the Underground Railroad is a subject that deserves a new national monument. The Underground Railroad was the secret network of people and places that helped runaway slaves escape to freedom.

In Cincinnati, Ohio, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is planning a new museum to open in the summer of 2004. To coincide with its opening, the Freedom Center is seeking design packages for a monument honoring the importance of the Underground Railroad in American history. They invite school groups to submit designs and will display outstanding designs on their web site.