Christ of the Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ of the Ohio |
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| Artist | Herbert Jogerst |
| Year | 1956 |
| Dimensions | 3.5 m × 2.1 m × 7.0 m (11.4 ft × 7 ft × 23 ft) |
| Location | Troy, Indiana, United States |
| 37°59′31.89″N 86°47′54.11″W / 37.9921917°N 86.7983639°W | |
| Owner | Town of Troy |
The Christ of the Ohio is a large statue of Jesus Christ located in Troy, Indiana, in the United States. It stands on Fulton Hill, which looks out over the Ohio River. This impressive artwork has been a landmark for many years.
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What the Statue Looks Like
The statue shows Jesus Christ standing with his arms reaching up towards the sky. He is wearing a long robe, called a me'īl, and is barefoot. He also has a beard.
The statue is made from a special mix of white portland cement and crushed pink stone. It is very heavy, weighing about 6,300 pounds (which is about 2,858 kilograms)!
The statue rests on a stone base, or pedestal. This base is made from stone found in Saint Meinrad, Indiana, mixed with cement. On the front of the pedestal, you can read these words:
- CHRIST
- OF
- THE
- OHIO
- AD
- 1956
The statue is located on the east side of Troy, right by the Ohio River. It is near a curve in the river and has been used as a guide for boats since it was first put there. You can even see it from Indiana State Road 66. It stands 75 feet (about 23 meters) above the road.
About the Artist: Herbert Jogerst
The artist who created the statue was Herbert Jogerst. He was from Germany. During World War II, he was a prisoner of war (POW) in the United States. He was held at Camp Breckenridge in Morganfield, Kentucky, starting in 1943.
While he was a prisoner, Jogerst worked on sculptures. His art impressed the camp's chaplain, Peter Behrman, who was a priest at the St. Meinrad Archabbey.
After the war, Jogerst went back to Germany in 1948. He found it hard to get work as an artist there. So, he reached out to Behrman for help. The St. Meinrad Archabbey then asked Jogerst to create some sculptures for them. Herbert Jogerst passed away in 1993.
How the Statue Was Made
While Herbert Jogerst was working on sculptures for St. Meinrad, he met Dr. Nicholas A. James. Dr. James was visiting the Archabbey at the time. He was so impressed with Jogerst's work that he asked him to create the statue for his summer home.
Dr. James's home was known as "Grandma's House." It was located right on the banks of the Ohio River. The statue was officially dedicated and shown to the public on May 1, 1957. Later, Grandma's House was sold. The town of Troy then bought the statue, making it a public landmark.
How the Statue is Kept
In 1993, the Christ of the Ohio statue was looked at by a group called the Smithsonian Institution's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey. This group checks on outdoor artworks to make sure they are well cared for. The people who surveyed the statue said it was "well maintained," meaning it was in good condition and being looked after properly.
