James Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Statue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The James Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Statue
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The statue in 2008
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
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| Location | Reservation 309-G, 16th St. & Park Rd.NW., Washington, District of Columbia |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1932 |
| Architect | Leo Lentelli |
| MPS | Memorials in Washington, D.C. |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001051 |
| Added to NRHP | October 11, 2007 |
The James Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Statue is a special statue located in Washington, D.C.. It honors James Gibbons, who was a very important leader in the Catholic Church in America. The statue shows him sitting down, wearing his cardinal's robes. You can find this statue at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, near 16th Street and Park Road. It was created by an artist named Leo Lentelli.
This statue was first studied by the Smithsonian Institution in 1993. Later, in 2007, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
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What the Statue Looks Like
This statue is made of bronze, which is a strong metal. It shows James Gibbons sitting calmly. He is wearing his special robes, which are the clothes cardinals wear. In his left hand, he holds a cross that hangs from his neck. His right hand is raised, as if he is giving a blessing to people.
The statue sits on a large base made of granite. This base is about 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It weighs about 2,500 pounds. On the base, there is a carving of a shield. Above the shield is a special hat called a galero, which is worn by cardinals.
Symbols on the Base
The shield on the base has two parts. On the left side, you can see the coat of arms for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore. On the right side, there is Cardinal Gibbons' own personal coat of arms.
Around the shield, there are rows of tassels. These tassels show the rank of a church leader. In this case, there are 15 rows of tassels. This number tells us that Gibbons was a Cardinal, which is a very high rank.
Words on the Base
On the front of the base, you can read these words:
- JAMES
- CARDINAL
- GIBBONS
- NDCCCXXXI.
On the back of the base, it says:
- ERECTED BY
- THE KNIGHTS
- OF COLUMBUS
- MCMXXXII.
On the left side of the base, you can see the artist's name and when it was made:
- LEO LENTELLI Sc.
- 1932 ROMAN BRONZE WORKS N.Y.
How the Statue Was Made
The idea for the James Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Statue was approved by the United States Congress and President Calvin Coolidge on April 23, 1928. The statue was ordered by a group called the Knights of Columbus. They paid for the statue, and it cost $35,998. The United States government did not have to pay anything.
The statue was officially shown to the public on August 14, 1932. Many people attended the special ceremony.
Why This Statue is Important
The sculpture was put in place to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Knights of Columbus. They chose to honor Cardinal Gibbons because he was seen as a "great American" leader. The artist, Leo Lentelli, created the statue in his studio in New York.
On February 22, 2007, the Gibbons Memorial was named a historic site in Washington, D.C. Then, on October 11, 2007, it was added to the national register of historic places. This helps protect and remember its importance.
