Equestrian statue of William Henry Harrison facts for kids
The statue in 2006.
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 39°06′14.65″N 84°31′00.58″W / 39.1040694°N 84.5168278°W |
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| Location | Piatt Park, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
| Designer | Louis Rebisso |
| Builder | M. H. Mossman Legner & Quaing (pedestal) |
| Material | Bronze Barre granite (pedestal) |
| Height | 27 feet (8.2 m) |
| Dedicated to | William Henry Harrison |
An equestrian statue of William Henry Harrison stands in Piatt Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. An equestrian statue means it shows a person riding a horse. This large statue was created by sculptor Louis Rebisso. It was first shown to the public on May 30, 1896, which was then called Decoration Day.
Recently, some people have discussed the statue. This is because William Henry Harrison owned enslaved people. There have been calls to remove the statue during recent protests.
Contents
History
Who Was William Henry Harrison?
William Henry Harrison was an American soldier and politician. He was born in Virginia in 1773. His family owned large farms. In 1791, he joined the army. He fought in the Northwest Indian War.
Later, he became involved in politics. He held different jobs in the Northwest Territory and Indiana Territory. After fighting in the War of 1812, he returned to politics. He served in various roles in the new state of Ohio.
In 1840, he was elected President of the United States. Sadly, he died soon after becoming president. He was the first American president to die while in office. Harrison was also the first of eight U.S. presidents from Ohio.
How the Statue Came to Be
People started planning a large statue to honor Harrison in Cincinnati in 1886. A group organized a contest. Sculptors were asked to send their ideas by September 10, 1887.
In late 1886, the Ohio General Assembly (Ohio's government) gave $25,000 for the project. They hoped to show the statue in 1888. This would be 100 years after the first settlement in Marietta, Ohio.
By October 1887, the group chose the design by sculptor Louis Rebisso. Rebisso was from Cincinnati. His design showed Harrison as an older man riding his favorite horse. This made it an equestrian statue.
Even though they planned for 1888, the statue took longer. In 1891, Rebisso had only finished a model. He planned to send it to a foundry (a place where metal is melted and shaped) for casting soon. On May 21, 1892, the statue was cast in Massachusetts.
Unveiling the Statue
In late 1892, the statue was first shown in Chicago. It was part of Ohio's display at the World's Columbian Exposition. Important people spoke at this event. These included William McKinley, who was Ohio's governor, and President Benjamin Harrison. Benjamin Harrison was William Henry Harrison's grandson.
After the Chicago event, the statue was moved to Piatt Park in Cincinnati. It was officially unveiled there on May 30, 1896. This day was known as Decoration Day.
An article from 1896 said the statue was finished years earlier. But it was kept in storage for a while. This was because there wasn't enough public money to set it up. For example, the statue was ready in 1892. However, the contract for its base (pedestal) wasn't made until 1896. Legner & Quaing of Cincinnati built the base. This monument is special because it is the only equestrian statue in Cincinnati.
What the Statue Looks Like
The monument has a bronze statue of Harrison on horseback. It sits on a base made of Barre granite. The bottom of the base is about 22 feet (6.7 meters) long and 15.5 feet (4.7 meters) wide.
Words are carved on opposite sides of the base. They say "Ohio's First President" and "William Henry Harrison." The statue itself covers an area of about 4 feet (1.2 meters) by 6 feet (1.8 meters).
The granite base is 13 feet (4 meters) tall. The bronze statue on top is 14 feet (4.3 meters) tall. Harrison is shown in his military uniform. He wears a special hat called a chapeau and holds a sword.
Some people believe the horse was modeled after Whitey. This was Harrison's own horse, which he rode when he became president. It's interesting that the horse in the statue doesn't have a saddle. This makes it unclear how the stirrups are held in place.
In 1912, a writer named Charles Frederic Goss called the statue "very excellent." However, a 1913 book about equestrian statues said that Harrison's "quaint chapeau with a feather gives the work almost a comical appearance."
The statue originally faced east. But after it was moved in 1988, it now faces west.
Images for kids
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A closer look at the statue, showing the stirrup and no saddle.
See also
In Spanish: Estatua ecuestre de William Henry Harrison para niños
