Monument Tower

File:Fhnxfhn.jpg

The angelic Monument Tower.

“Look at her, ain't she some kind of beauty. You know, that's where all the immigrants used to pass through."”

― Male Civilian

Monument Tower is a colossal statue made in the likeness of the Archangel Columbia which serves as a major landmark in the floating city. It is the main attraction on Monument Island, but can be seen most anywhere in the city.

Built by the architects under the leadership of Zachary Hale Comstock, it contains a public visitation area and a private research facility. Though ostensibly a landmark as the home for "The Miracle Child", it functions as a gilded cage to keep Elizabeth in safety. The upper part of the statue holds Specimen Observation, where Elizabeth is observed on a daily basis. The lower part of the statue contains the Siphon, designed to contain Elizabeth's powers.

BioShock Infinite

Main article: BioShock Infinite

Town Center

Booker DeWitt is initially given a postcard featuring the Tower among other things at the Maine Lighthouse. When he first enters Columbia in the Town Center, he uses the postcard to orient himself.

The entrance to the Monument Island Gateway can be seen in the Raffle Square, but Booker inadvertently reveals himself to the Columbian Police, forcing him to detour through Shady Lane and the Comstock Center Rooftops.

The souvenir postcard given to Booker

The closed Gondola to the Monument Island Gateway in Shady Lane.

Monument Island

After a harrowing encounter with Comstock on board a Security Zeppelin, Booker makes it through the Gateway and ventures into the abandoned Monument Island. Climbing his way through the Tower, he discovers that scientists have been keeping a close eye on Elizabeth with recordings and observations. He falls into the Library, where Elizabeth is understandably terrified at the presence of this unknown intruder, but is then intrigued. Just then, Elizabeth's guardian, the Songbird, appears when summoned by a Whistler and starts attacking the intruder, destroying the building in the process. Booker and Elizabeth narrowly manage to escape just as the statue starts coming apart and the Sky-Lines are destroyed.

The entrance to the tower.

A profile of the statue's face.

A bird in her cage.

Mgjch.jpg

The side of Monument Tower.

The tower comes apart.

Battleship Bay

The destroyed Monument Tower viewed from Battleship Bay.

The two end up in the waters at Battleship Bay relatively unharmed. As they try to get away to the The First Lady airship, the clouds suddenly drift away, revealing the destroyed Tower. Citizens are notably distraught at the damage while Elizabeth feels remorse for her former home.

Hall of Heroes

The Tower in the First Lady Memorial

The Tower makes a symbolic appearance in the First Lady's Memorial exhibit in the Hall of Heroes. "The Transport of the Child" depicts Comstock carrying the infant Elizabeth to the Tower for safekeeping against the anarchist Daisy Fitzroy.

Hand of the Prophet

On board the Hand of the Prophet Booker and Elizabeth discover a model of the Tower near Comstock's quarters showing the Siphon running throughout its base which functions to dampen Elizabeth's powers.

Later, they have to defend the Hand of the Prophet from an assault by the Vox Populi. Once their zeppelin reaches Monument Island, Elizabeth hands a Whistler to Booker who plays the notes C-A-G-E, whereupon Songbird destroys what remains of the tower, and with it, the Siphon inside.

A replica of Monument Tower in the Hand of the Prophet.

2013-07-01 00493.jpg

Elizabeth looking at Monument Tower cross-section model with Siphon visible.

Elizabeth giving Booker the Whistler.

Songbird destroying what's left of the Tower.

The destruction of the Siphon.