Statue of Frederick Douglass (College Park, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frederick Douglass |
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| Artist | Andrew Edwards |
| Year | 2015 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Location | University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States |
| Owner | University of Maryland |
The statue of Frederick Douglass is a public artwork located at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. It stands in front of the Hornbake Library. This statue honors Frederick Douglass, an important African-American leader. He was an abolitionist, meaning he fought to end slavery. He was also a suffragist, working for women's right to vote, and a leader for workers' rights.
About the Frederick Douglass Statue
This statue was first shown to the public in 2015. It was created by the sculptor Andrew Edwards. He got ideas for the statue from art showing Barack Obama and Moses.
What the Statue Looks Like
The statue shows Frederick Douglass in the middle of giving a speech. One of his arms is stretched out, as if he is talking to a crowd. Under his other arm, he holds a copy of his autobiography, which is a book about his own life.
The statue is made of bronze. It was designed in Ireland and then cast (shaped) in Wales. It stands on a base that is about 3 feet tall. The statue itself weighs almost half a ton!
The area around the statue has stone pavers. There is also a tall steel wall with some of Frederick Douglass's famous words carved into it. Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., who is one of Douglass's descendants, said he liked that the statue shows Douglass during his strong anti-slavery years.
How the Statue Was Made Possible
Creating this statue took many years of hard work by leaders at the university. They wanted to honor Frederick Douglass because he was an important person from Maryland. They also wanted the statue to show their commitment to social justice.
A history professor named Ira Berlin was part of this group. They called themselves the "North Stars." This name came from "The North Star," an anti-slavery newspaper that Douglass himself edited. Professor Berlin said that the group wanted Frederick Douglass on campus to represent social justice.
People started working to raise money for the statue and the square around it in 2011. They needed more than half a million dollars. The statue itself cost $200,000.
