Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gloucester, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Craske, Leonard F. |
| Architectural style | Modeled After Clayton Morrissey |
| MPS | Gloucester MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000473 |
| Added to NRHP | May 7, 1996 |
The Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial is a famous statue in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It is also known as the "Man at the Wheel" statue. People sometimes call it the "Fishermen's Memorial Cenotaph." This historic sculpture was built in 1925. It stands on South Stacy Boulevard, near the Stacy Esplanade. The memorial honors the many fishermen from Gloucester who have been lost at sea.
What the Memorial Looks Like
This memorial features an 8-foot (2.4-meter) tall bronze statue. It shows a fisherman wearing oilskins, which are special waterproof clothes. He stands firmly at the wheel of his ship. The statue is placed so the fisherman looks out over Gloucester Harbor.
The statue rests on a square base made of sea-green granite. The fisherman in the sculpture looks like Captain Clayton Morrissey. He was a well-known fisherman from Gloucester. The stone was made to look rough. This makes the fisherman seem strong and rugged. The sculptor made the fisherman look like he is facing a big windstorm. His eyes are fixed on the water. Every muscle seems to be working hard to hold the wheel.
There are two plaques on the base. A small plaque on the street side says, "Memorial To The Gloucester Fisherman, August 23, 1923." A larger panel faces the harbor. It has bronze letters from the Bible's Psalm 107:23. It reads: "They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships 1623-1923."
The Story Behind the Memorial
The English sculptor Leonard Craske designed this statue. He created it between 1882 and 1950. The Gorham Company in Providence, Rhode Island, cast the statue in 1925.
The memorial was built to celebrate Gloucester's 300th anniversary. It also remembers the thousands of fishermen lost at sea. For example, in 1879, a terrible storm caused 249 fishermen and 29 ships to be lost.
Before designing the statue, Craske spent many hours on fishing boats. He sketched and photographed fishermen at work. His design was chosen, and the statue cost $10,000 to make. Many people believe this is Craske's best work. Thousands of visitors come to see the Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial every year. It has become a symbol of the city. It reminds everyone of Gloucester's strong connection to the sea.
The Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
