Sam Houston (Ney) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam Houston |
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The statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection
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| Artist | Elisabet Ney |
| Year | 1905 |
| Medium | Marble sculpture |
| Subject | Sam Houston |
| Dimensions | 210 cm (82.5 in) |
| Location | National Statuary Hall Collection, Washington, D.C., United States |
The Sam Houston statue is a famous artwork by Elisabet Ney. It shows Sam Houston, an important figure in Texas history. This statue was first created in 1892 and put on display in 1905. It is one of two statues from Texas in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.. The other statue from Texas, Stephen F. Austin, was also made by Elisabet Ney. Another version of the Sam Houston statue can be seen in the Texas State Capitol building, where it was placed in 1903.
How the Sam Houston Statue Was Made
In early 1892, the government of Texas was getting ready for the World's Columbian Exposition. This was a big world's fair happening in Chicago the next year. The Texas Governor, Oran Milo Roberts, suggested that a group of women raising money for the exhibit should talk to Elisabet Ney. She was a German-American sculptress who lived in Austin, Texas.
After a meeting, Ney was asked to create statues of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin for the fair. However, the group did not have money to pay her. Ney agreed to do the work anyway. She started with the statue of Houston. By April 1892, she had finished a clay model of the statue. She invited Houston's family and friends to see it and say if it looked like him.
By July of that year, a plaster version of Houston was ready. The statue was shown to the public at Ney's studio. This studio is now the Elisabet Ney Museum. After this, the statue was sent to Chicago for the Exposition.
The statue of Austin was finished too late for the Chicago fair. But the Houston statue was very popular. The fair's Art Commission even offered it a special spot in the main art building.
After the fair ended, Ney and the women's group wanted to make marble copies of the Houston and Austin statues. They wanted these copies to be shown permanently in the Texas State Capitol. But it took many years to get the money needed for this. In 1901, the Texas Legislature finally approved the funds. The two statues were shown for the first time in the Texas Capitol on January 19, 1903.
An extra copy of each statue was made. These were sent to the National Statuary Hall Collection. They were shown in the United States Capitol in 1905.
What the Statue Looks Like
The Sam Houston statue is a full-size artwork made from marble sculpture. It shows Houston standing on a slightly uneven square platform. His right foot is forward, and he is looking up and straight ahead.
His right hand is held across his chest. His left hand rests on the handle of a saber (a type of sword) hanging at his left hip. The statue shows Houston as a young pioneer. He is wearing fringed buckskins (clothing made from deerskin) and boots that reach his calves. A Native American sarape (a type of blanket) is draped over his left shoulder. The front of the platform has the words "SAM HOUSTON" carved into it.
When Ney was making the statue, she borrowed Houston's actual saber from his daughter, Maggie Williams. This helped her make the weapon look very real. The sarape was also a copy of a blanket Houston often wore. Ney found a similar blanket to use as a guide.
Some people complained that the Houston statue was 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall. They noted that the Austin statue was only 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm). Ney replied that these were the actual heights of the men. She said if anyone had a problem, they should talk to "God" about it, not her.
See also
In Spanish: Estatua de Sam Houston (Ney) para niños
