Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Montreal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nicolaus Copernicus Monument |
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| French: Monument à Nicolas Copernic | |
The monument in 2017
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| Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| 45°33′38″N 73°32′58″W / 45.56064°N 73.54933°W | |
The Nicolaus Copernicus Monument (French: Monument à Nicolas Copernic) is a statue found in Montreal, Canada. It honors Nicolaus Copernicus, a famous scientist. This monument is a copy of an older statue in Warsaw, Poland. It was first shown at Expo 67, a big world's fair.
The statue is now located outside the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. This planetarium is part of Montreal's Space for Life, a cool place to learn about nature and science. Before 2013, the monument was in Chaboillez Square.
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Who Was Nicolaus Copernicus?
Nicolaus Copernicus was a brilliant astronomer who lived a long time ago (1473–1543). He was from Poland. Copernicus changed how people thought about the universe. Before him, most people believed the Earth was the center of everything.
Copernicus' Big Idea
Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model. This idea says that the Sun is actually the center of our Solar System. He said that the Earth and other planets orbit around the Sun. This was a huge discovery! It helped start the Scientific Revolution. His work changed astronomy forever.
About the Montreal Monument
This statue in Montreal is a special tribute to Copernicus. It helps people remember his important contributions to science.
The Artist and Materials
The original statue was created by Bertel Thorvaldsen. He was a famous Danish sculptor who lived from 1770 to 1844. The Montreal monument is a copy made in 1966.
Statue Dimensions
The bronze statue is about 2.7 meters (nearly 9 feet) tall and 1.1 meters (about 3.6 feet) wide. The concrete base is 1.8 meters (about 5.9 feet) tall and 1.5 meters (about 4.9 feet) wide.
How the Statue Was Made
The Montreal statue was cast in bronze in 1966. It was made from plaster molds of Thorvaldsen's original work. This process happened after Thorvaldsen had passed away. Dr. Dyveke Helsted, who was the director of the Thorvaldsen Museum, helped supervise its creation.
Monument's History in Montreal
The Nicolaus Copernicus Monument was first shown to the public in 1967. This was during the Montreal World's Fair. The City of Montreal officially bought the statue in 1968. It was moved to its current spot at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium in 2013.
