Sam Houston Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam Houston Monument |
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The equestrian statue in 2011
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| Artist | Enrico Cerracchio |
| Year | 1925 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | Sam Houston |
| Dimensions | 6.1 m × 6.1 m × 2.7 m (20 ft × 20 ft × 9 ft) |
| Condition | "Treatment urgent" (1993) |
| Location | Houston, Texas, United States |
| 29°43′18″N 95°23′27″W / 29.72159°N 95.39096°W | |
| Owner | City of Houston's Municipal Arts Commission |
The Sam Houston Monument is a large outdoor bronze sculpture of Sam Houston. It was created by Enrico Cerracchio and stands in Hermann Park in Houston, Texas. The city of Houston's Municipal Arts Commission takes care of it.
Contents
About the Sam Houston Statue
This impressive monument was built by Enrico Cerracchio in 1924. It was officially shown to the public on August 16, 1925. The statue looks like a famous painting called General Sam Houston at San Jacinto.
The statue shows Sam Houston riding his horse. He is wearing a military uniform and a long cape. He has a beard and points forward with his right arm.
What the Statue Looks Like
The bronze statue itself is about 20 feet (6.1 meters) tall, 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide, and 9 feet (2.7 meters) long. It sits on a gray granite arch that is even bigger. This arch was made by Frank Teich. It measures about 25 feet (7.6 meters) tall, 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide, and 9 feet (2.7 meters) long. There is a "Lone Star" symbol on the arch's main stone.
How the Monument Was Planned
The idea for a monument in this spot came from landscape architect George Kessler. He suggested it in his 1916 plan for Hermann Park.
Raising Money for the Statue
As early as 1917, the Houston Chronicle newspaper started collecting money for a statue of Sam Houston. The project needed $75,000 to be built.
- The Women's City Club gathered $40,000.
- The city government gave $10,000.
- The state government provided $25,000.
They asked artists from all over the country to send in their ideas for the design. These ideas were shown to the public for three nights at the Humble Oil Building. A group of important people from Houston chose Enrico Cerracchio's design as the winner.
Unveiling the Monument
On August 16, 1925, Sam Houston's great-granddaughter officially revealed the monument. John Henry Kirby dedicated it. At that time, three of Sam Houston's own children were still alive. Many older Texans also remembered him well.
Keeping the Monument Safe
In March 1993, experts from the Smithsonian Institution said the monument needed "urgent treatment." This was part of their "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program.
Students Help with Restoration
In 1997, the 5th grade students at Bunker Hill Elementary decided to help care for the monument. In 2006, the statue was cleaned and repaired. This $18,000 restoration was paid for entirely by the students.
By 2009, 5th grade students from Bunker Hill Elementary and their business sponsors had raised money every year since 1993. They donated more than $71,000 to the Houston Arts Foundation to help take care of the monument.
See also
In Spanish: Estatua de Sam Houston para niños
