Madison Square Arch, 1918.

The Madison Square Arch, also known as the "Victory Arch," was built in 1918 to commemorate New York City's war dead. Conceived by Mayor John F. Hylan and designed by Thomas Hastings, the arch was made of temporary materials and modeled after the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

Although the intent was for arch to be rebuilt out of permanent materials, the plan was scrapped over arguments about the cost and the design of the monument.