The historic plateau was named for the Unionist rallies that were held here as the South moved toward secession in the early 1860s. The Dewey Monument celebrates Admiral Dewey's 1898 Spanish-American War victory over the Spanish navy. Both socialite Alma de Bretteville Spreckles and eighth grade teacher Ida Clark are said to be the model for sculptor Robert Aiken's bronze Victory that tops the monument's Corinthian column. (Spreckles is more widely accepted as the model.)