Statue of Junípero Serra (Los Angeles) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Junípero Serra |
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The statue in 2014
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| Artist | Ettore Cadorin (replica) |
| Year | 1932 |
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| Subject | Junípero Serra |
| Condition | In storage |
| Location | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 34°03′22″N 118°14′18″W / 34.0562°N 118.2383°W | |
A statue honoring Junípero Serra was once located in Los Angeles, California. People sometimes called him Father Junipero Serra. The statue was placed in a part of El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument. This area was also known as Father Serra Park.
About the Junípero Serra Statue
What it Looked Like
The statue was made of bronze. It showed Junípero Serra. This statue was a copy of an earlier one. That first statue was made by Ettore Cadorin in 1930.
The statue was about 8 feet 9 inches tall. It stood on a concrete base. The base was about 5 feet 8 inches tall. It was located in Los Angeles. You could find it between the Santa Ana Freeway and the city's Chinatown area.
Its History
The statue was put in place in 1932. About 4,000 people came to see it. It was a big event for the city.
In 1994, the Smithsonian Institution looked at the artwork. This was part of a program called "Save Outdoor Sculpture!". They checked on outdoor statues across the country.
Why it Was Removed
In June 2020, the statue was taken down. A group of people removed it. These people included members from the Tongva and Tataviam Tribal Nations. They were also Native/Indigenous activists. They acted in support of the George Floyd protests.
The City of Los Angeles saw this removal as an act of civil disobedience. This means people broke a rule to protest something. On June 30, 2020, the city decided to look at controversial statues. They wanted to discuss plaques and other honors. The park where the statue stood will be renamed. This will happen with help from local tribal communities.
