Statue of George Washington (Indianapolis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Washington |
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| Artist | Donald De Lue |
| Year | 1959, dedicated 1987 |
| Type | bronze statue |
| Dimensions | 280 cm × 120 cm × 91 cm (112 in × 46 in × 36 in) |
| Location | Indiana Statehouse, Indianapolis, IN |
| 39°46′3.33″N 86°9′45.66″W / 39.7675917°N 86.1626833°W | |
| Owner | State of Indiana |
The statue of George Washington is a public artwork by American sculptor Donald De Lue. You can find it on the grounds of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. This bronze statue shows George Washington, who was the first President of the United States. It's one of several copies made from an original wax model created in 1959. The original was made at the Modern Art Foundry in New York.
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What the Statue Looks Like
This statue shows George Washington dressed in clothes from his time. He wears breeches (short pants) and an apron. He also has a special medallion with symbols from the Freemasons. The Freemasons are one of the oldest and largest groups in the world. They are known for their secret rituals and symbols.
Washington holds a three-cornered hat in his left arm. In his right hand, he holds a gavel, which is a small hammer often used by leaders in meetings. He also wears an open overcoat with buttons. Next to him is a short stand. Washington's clothes in the statue show how he might have looked when he helped start the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
The statue stands on a tall, stone base. This base has words carved into it.
Messages on the Base
The base of the statue has several important messages carved into it:
- Northwest corner: "Donald De Lue Sc. 1959" (This tells us the sculptor's name and when the original was made.)
- Northeast corner: "The Modern Art Foundry, Inc. 1986 New York, New York" (This shows where the statue was made and when this copy was cast.)
- Front (south) side: "GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES/1789-1797; First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen" (This honors Washington as President and praises his leadership.)
- West side: "Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct./George Washington" (These are words of wisdom from Washington about how nations should act.)
- East side: "My attachment to the Society of which we are members will dispose me to contribute my best endeavors to promote the honor and interests of the Craft./ George Washington, Freemason 1753–1799" (Here, Washington speaks about his dedication to the Freemasons.)
- North side: A Masonic symbol (a square and compass) and "Presented to the People of Indiana From the Freesmasons of Indiana/George Washington Commission/The Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana/May 19, 1987" (This explains that the Freemasons of Indiana gave this statue as a gift.)
Size and Weight
The statue itself is about 9 feet 4 inches (2.8 meters) tall. It is 46 inches (117 cm) wide and 36 inches (91 cm) deep. The statue weighs about 900 pounds (408 kg). The granite base is 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and weighs around 9 short tons (8.2 metric tons).
The version of the statue at the Indiana Statehouse was a gift. It was given by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Indiana. It was officially dedicated on May 19, 1987.
Other Locations
Copies of this statue can be found in several other places:
- Detroit, Michigan (1966)
- Lansing, Michigan (1982)
- Lexington, Massachusetts
- Alexandria, Virginia (1966)
- Wallingford, Connecticut (1965)
- Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, New York
- New Orleans, Louisiana (1959)
History of the Statue
The original George Washington as Master Mason statue was first made from a wax model. This happened in 1959 at Donald De Lue's studio in New Jersey. The statue was then re-made in bronze in 1986.
It was officially dedicated on May 19, 1987. The leader of the Freemasons of Indiana, J.C. Paxton, was there for the ceremony. The gift cost $100,000. Lieutenant Governor John Mutz accepted the statue for the state of Indiana.
Another sculptor named Bryant Baker created a work called Illustrious Brother George Washington. This earlier work also showed Washington in a similar pose with Masonic symbols. It helped inspire Donald De Lue's statue.
