Statue of John Plankinton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of John Plankinton |
|
|---|---|
John Plankinton bronze statue
Milwaukee Grand Plankinton Arcade |
|
| Artist | Richard Henry Park |
| Year | 1892 |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | John Plankinton |
| Dimensions | 1.8 m (6 ft) |
| Location | Shops of Grand Avenue, Milwaukee |
| 43°02′18.2″N 87°54′43.6″W / 43.038389°N 87.912111°W | |
The John Plankinton statue is a cool, lifelike sculpture of a famous businessman named John Plankinton. It stands about six foot (1.8 m) tall. A talented artist, Richard Henry Park, created this bronze statue. It took him six months to finish it!
The statue was first placed in the Plankinton House Hotel in downtown Milwaukee in 1892. Over the years, the building changed a lot. It became a shopping area called the Plankinton Arcade. Later, it was known as the John Plankinton Mall. Today, it's part of the Shops of Grand Avenue. The statue was fixed up in 2012 and now stands on a tall 15 foot (4.6 m) base. Lots of shoppers see it every day!
Contents
Who Was John Plankinton?
John Plankinton was an important businessman. He lived from 1820 to 1891. After he passed away, people wanted to honor him. So, in October 1891, they decided to make a statue.
How the Statue Was Made
Richard Henry Park was chosen to create the statue. He was known as the "Florentine sculptor." This means he was very skilled, like artists from Florence, Italy. Park had already made other sculptures for the Plankinton family.
He made the six foot (1.8 m) bronze statue look very real. It shows John Plankinton standing in a relaxed way. The statue was finished in 1892.
Where the Statue Has Been
The statue first stood in the rotunda of the Plankinton House Hotel. A rotunda is a round room, often with a dome. This hotel was in downtown Milwaukee.
Over time, the building changed names and looks. In the 1970s, it became the John Plankinton Mall. Then, between 1980 and 1982, the building was redesigned again. They even made a special round area, called a circular atrium, just for the statue!
The shopping area is now called the Shops of Grand Avenue. This name comes from a fancy street from the 1800s, which is now called Wisconsin Avenue.
Statue's Recent Makeover
In 2012, the bronze statue got a big cleanup and repair. This work took several months. After it was restored, it was put back on its base. The base was made by the American Bronze Company. On the base, it says: John Plankinton 1820 – 1891.
Now, the statue stands on its tall 15 foot (4.6 m) base. It's a permanent part of the shopping center. Many people see this important piece of art every day.
Different Views of the Bronze Statue
How the Statue Was Restored
See also
In Spanish: Estatua de John Plankinton para niños
