Statue of Rosa Parks (Eugene, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rosa Parks |
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The statue in 2015
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| Artist | Pete Helzer |
| Year | 2009 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | Rosa Parks |
| Location | Eugene, Oregon, United States |
| 44°02′55″N 123°05′39″W / 44.04871°N 123.09414°W | |
The Rosa Parks sculpture is a beautiful outdoor artwork made of bronze. It was created in 2009 by an artist named Pete Helzer. This statue shows Rosa Parks, a very important African-American Civil Rights activist. You can find it outside the bus station in Eugene, Oregon, in the United States.
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About the Rosa Parks Sculpture
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This special statue shows Rosa Parks sitting calmly in a bus seat. It was first shown to the public on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2009. This was a very meaningful day for the sculpture to be unveiled.
A Special Plaza Renaming
On the same day the statue was revealed, the bus station plaza got a new name. It was changed from Eugene Station Plaza to Rosa Parks Plaza. This made Eugene the first city in the United States to name a bus station in honor of Rosa Parks. It was a big step to remember her important work.
How the Sculpture Was Funded
Creating the sculpture cost about $44,000. The local transit group, Lane Transit District, gave the first $10,000. The rest of the money came from many different sources. Local businesses, community groups, and people in the area all helped. Government agencies also contributed to make the statue possible.
The Artist's Thoughts
Pete Helzer, the artist, felt very good about this project. He said that it had a lot of community interest and support. It was a project that many people cared about and wanted to see happen.
The Model for the Statue
An interesting fact is that Helzer's neighbor, Lacie Heffron, was the model for the sculpture. She posed for the artist so he could create the statue. Lacie felt very honored and lucky to be a part of this important artwork.
