Statue of William Moultrie facts for kids
William Moultrie statue (2013)
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| Location | White Point Garden, Charleston, South Carolina, United States |
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| Designer | John Ney Michel Christopher Liberatos (pedestal) |
| Fabricator | Ward Sculptural Arts Foundry |
| Height | 15 feet (4.6 m) |
| Dedicated to | William Moultrie |
The William Moultrie statue is a monument found in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. It stands in White Point Garden. This statue was put in place in 2007. It honors William Moultrie, a brave general from the American Revolutionary War.
History of the Statue
William Moultrie was a general in the Continental Army. This army fought during the American Revolutionary War. In 1776, he became famous. He won the Battle of Fort Sullivan. This was one of the first American victories in the war. The fort was later named Fort Moultrie to honor him. After the war, he served as Governor of South Carolina many times. He also wrote a book about his war experiences. William Moultrie passed away in 1805.
People tried many times to build a statue for Moultrie. These attempts happened in 1829, the early 1900s, and 1975. But none of them worked out. In 1998, one of Moultrie's family members started a new effort. They wanted to finally build a statue for him. In 2000, a special group was formed. This group worked to create the statue. Members from local groups like the Society of the Cincinnati helped.
Over several years, this group raised about $250,000. This money was used to build the statue. A local artist named John Ney Michel was chosen. He designed the statue itself. Christopher Liberatos designed the base, called a pedestal. The statue was made by Ward Sculptural Arts Foundry in Atlanta. In April 2007, a large part of the USS Maine was moved. This made space in White Point Garden for the new monument.
The statue was officially revealed on June 28, 2007. This day is known as Carolina Day. Several hundred people came to the ceremony. The event was planned around the Carolina Day celebrations. These celebrations often happen near another monument in White Point Garden. A bishop named C. FitzSimons Allison blessed the new statue. Five special wreaths were placed at its base. These came from the groups that helped build the monument.
Both former Governor James B. Edwards and Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. praised the statue. More celebrations for Moultrie took place later that day. They were held at nearby Fort Moultrie. The new statue is located near the Confederate Defenders of Charleston monument. Both are in White Point Garden.
Statue Design
The monument has a statue of Moultrie that is 8-foot (2.4 m) tall. It stands on a 9-foot (2.7 m) tall granite pedestal. The front of the pedestal simply says "MOULTRIE". The other three sides have more information. They list the names of the groups that created the monument. They also include a short story about Moultrie's life. Below this story is the date the statue was dedicated: "June 28, 2007". The statue faces Charleston Harbor. Moultrie is shown holding his hat in his hand. His sword is still in its sheath.
See also
In Spanish: Estatua de William Moultrie para niños
