The Progress of Railroading facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Progress of Railroading |
|
|---|---|
_A.jpg) |
|
| Artist | Louis Saint-Gaudens |
| Year | 1908 |
| Type | Granite |
| Dimensions | 18 ft (5.5 m) each for 6 figures |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| 38°53′49.3″N 77°0′23.17″W / 38.897028°N 77.0064361°W | |
| Owner | Union Station |
The Progress of Railroading is a cool group of sculptures by an American artist named Louis Saint-Gaudens. Six large sculptures were carved by a skilled Italian stone worker, Andrew E. Bernasconi, between 1909 and 1911. You can find these statues at Union Station in Washington, D.C., USA. The sculptures show figures that represent ideas important to train travel in the United States.
Contents
What Do the Sculptures Show?
These six amazing sculptures are 18 feet (about 5.5 meters) tall! They stand on the front of the Union Station building. These granite statues are placed above three connected triumphal arches that form the main entrance.
Each of the six figures represents an important idea:
- Archimedes – Represents Mechanics (how things work).
- Ceres – Represents Agriculture (farming and growing food).
- Apollo – Represents Imagination or Inspiration (new ideas).
- Themis – Represents Freedom or Justice (fairness).
- Thales – Represents Electricity (power and light).
- Prometheus – Represents Fire (heat and energy).
The figures on the far left and right are about how railroads work. The figures in the middle are about creativity and new ideas.
Messages Carved in Stone
There are also special messages carved into the stone near the sculptures. These messages share more about the ideas behind the artwork.
The message on the west (left) side says:
- FIRE – GREATEST OF DISCOVERIES
- ENABLING MAN TO LIVE IN VARIOUS CLIMATES
- USE MANY FOODS – AND COMPEL THE
- FORCES OF NATURE TO DO HIS WORK
- ELECTRICITY – CARRIER OF LIGHT AND POWER
- DEVOURER OF TIME AND SPACE – BEARER
- OF HUMAN SPEECH OVER LAND AND SEA
- GREATEST SERVANT OF MAN – ITSELF UNKNOWN
- THOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET
The message in the center says:
- SWEETENER OF HUT AND OF HALL
- BRINGER OF LIFE OUT OF NAUGHT
- FREEDOM O FAIREST OF ALL
- THE DAUGHTERS OF TIME AND THOUGHT
- MAN'S IMAGINATION HAS CONCEIVED ALL
- NUMBERS AND LETTERS ALL TOOLS VESSELS
- AND SHELTERS – EVERY ART AND TRADE ALL
- PHILOSOPHY AND POETRY – AND ALL POLITIES
- THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
The message on the east (right) side says:
- THE FARM – BEST HOME OF THE FAMILY – MAIN
- SOURCE OF NATIONAL WEALTH – FOUNDATION OF
- CIVILIZED SOCIETY – THE NATURAL PROVIDENCE
- THE OLD MECHANIC ARTS CONTROLLING NEW
- FORCES BUILD NEW HIGHWAYS FOR GOODS
- AND MEN OVERRIDE THE OCEAN AND MAKE
- THE VERY ETHER CARRY HUMAN THOUGHT
- THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE AND BLOSSOM
- AS THE ROSE
You'll also see two eagles on either side of the arches, adding to the grand look!
How Were the Sculptures Chosen?
When Union Station was being built, people debated what figures should be on the building. They thought about using famous American historical figures. However, these didn't quite fit the fancy Baroque architecture style of the building. So, they decided to use figures that represent ideas instead.
Many people helped decide which figures Louis Saint-Gaudens should sculpt. One of them was Charles William Eliot, who used to be the president of Harvard University.
Condition of the Artworks
In 1994, the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! program checked on The Progress of Railroading sculptures. They found that the sculptures needed some care and treatment to keep them in good shape.
