Statue of Samuel J. Kirkwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Samuel J. Kirkwood |
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The statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection
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| Artist | Vinnie Ream |
| Subject | Samuel J. Kirkwood |
The Samuel Kirkwood statue is a bronze sculpture. It was made by an artist named Vinnie Ream. You can find it in the National Statuary Hall Collection inside the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.. This statue is one of two from the state of Iowa in this special collection. It was officially shown to the public in 1913.
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About the Artist: Vinnie Ream
Vinnie Ream was a very talented artist. She became famous when she was a teenager. This was because of her 1866 statue of Abraham Lincoln. That statue also stands in the Capitol.
How Vinnie Ream Got the Job
Vinnie learned that the state of Iowa wanted a statue of Samuel Kirkwood. Even though Kirkwood had voted against her getting the Lincoln statue job, Vinnie wanted to create his statue. She worked hard to get the chance to make it.
Vinnie had actually stopped sculpting for almost 20 years. But with help from Kirkwood's wife, Jane Kirkwood, she won the project. On April 5, 1906, the Iowa General Assembly voted for Vinnie to make the statue. They also gave her $5,000 to cast her model into bronze.
Special Tools for Sculpting
Making a large statue is very physical work. Vinnie's husband, Richard, was an engineer. He designed a special "boatswain's chair" for her. This chair allowed Vinnie to sit down and move herself up and down. This way, she could work on the statue without too much strain.
Where the Statue Has Been
In 1924, people announced that another bronze statue of Kirkwood would be made. This one would be placed in Iowa. It was planned for the front of the Iowa Old Capitol Building. This building is on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City.
The Second Casting
Vinnie Ream had died ten years earlier. But the plaster model she used for the Washington, D.C., statue was still in her studio. In November 1927, a new bronze statue was made from this model. It was then placed in front of the Old Capitol.
In 1974, this second statue moved again. It went to Kirkwood Community College. At first, it was placed inside a new building there. Later, it was moved to an outdoor spot on the campus.
