The Spirit of Detroit facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Spirit of Detroit
Artist	Marshall Fredericks
Year	1958
Type	Bronze
Dimensions	790 cm (312 in)
Weight	9 tons
Location	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Owner	Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority (DWJBA)

The Spirit of Detroit is a very large bronze statue. It was made by an artist named Marshall Fredericks. You can find it in Detroit, Michigan, at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. This famous statue stands tall on Woodward Avenue.

What is The Spirit of Detroit?

The Spirit of Detroit is a huge monument. It features a large bronze statue created by Marshall Fredericks. The statue is located in Detroit, Michigan. It sits at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.

The statue was cast in Oslo, Norway. It is 26 feet (7.9 meters) tall. It weighs a massive 9 tons. The sculpture rests on a 60-ton marble base. It was the biggest bronze statue cast since the Renaissance period.

The large figure sits and holds a shiny gold sphere in its left hand. This sphere has rays coming from it. It is meant to symbolize God. In the figure's right hand, there is a group of people. This family group represents all human relationships.

Marshall Fredericks did not give the sculpture a name at first. The people of Detroit named it. They got the name from a Bible verse. The verse is from 2 Corinthians (3:17). It is written on the marble wall behind the statue.

"NOW THE LORD IS THAT SPIRIT
AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE
LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY."
               II CORINTHIANS 3:17

The semicircular wall behind the statue is 36 by 45 feet. It shows the official seals of the City of Detroit and Wayne County. A special plaque in front of the sculpture explains its meaning. It says the artist wanted to show that God's spirit is seen in families. Families are the most important human connection.

How Was It Made?

The idea for the sculpture began on August 2, 1955. It was ordered for $58,000. This amount would be about $415,000 today. Fredericks felt it was his duty to the city. He did not charge for his work.

To design the statue's spiritual parts, Fredericks talked with many religious groups. He sent a smaller model from the United States to Oslo, Norway. This is where the statue was cast. After casting, the sculpture was treated with acid for weeks. This process made the bronze turn its famous green color. The bronze is about 3/8 inches to 1.5 inches thick.

A strong steel frame was built to protect the sculpture. This frame was used during its long journey. Wooden beams, platforms, and burlap also helped protect it. The total shipping weight was 12 tons. The sculpture was placed face down on a wooden platform for transport.

It traveled on a ship called the Thomas Schulte. This ship was chartered by the Fjell Line. The journey was 4,800 miles long. It crossed the Atlantic Ocean and went through the Saint Lawrence Seaway. The ship arrived at the Port of Detroit on September 20, 1958. The Thomas Schulte was the only ship big enough to carry it. It also had to be small enough to fit through the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Four small models of the sculpture were sent along. They helped with customs checks. The statue was delivered to the Detroit City-County Building. It was placed on its marble base for the dedication ceremony on September 23, 1958.

The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum has some original pieces. You can see the plaster head of The Spirit of Detroit there. They also have a quarter-scale plaster model.

Keeping the Statue Looking Good

The sculpture gets regular care and cleaning. It also has been restored over the years. Once a year, workers clean the statue. They use special soaps that are safe for the environment. Then, they apply custom waxes made from petroleum. These waxes help protect the statue.

During its yearly care, heat is put on the bronze surface. Cupric nitrate is also applied. This helps keep its green color and protective layer. In 1984, the statue was covered in plastic. This was done while the marble panels behind it were replaced.

The statue was restored again in 2006. Money for this came from foundations and private donations. For its 50th anniversary, more funds were used for improvements. About $170,000 came from savings and energy efforts. In 2018, the statue had routine care. This included touching up the green color. The gold figures and sphere were also refreshed. On September 21, 2018, Detroit celebrated the sculpture's 60th anniversary.

A Special Place for the Community

In 2017, Spirit Plaza was built. It is a public space near the statue. Upgrades were finished in 2019. These upgrades cost $800,000. Now, it is a 20,000 square-foot plaza. It has a playground and musical instruments. There are also tables, chairs, and charging stations. Drinking fountains are available too.

How Much is it Worth?

In 2013, an art expert named Eric Ian Spoutz spoke about the statue. He told The Detroit News that the statue was worth over $1 million. In 2017, the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority said something important. They stated that fixing major damage to the sculpture would cost $6 million. This was based on its most recent value check.

A Symbol for Detroit

The Spirit of Detroit is one of Detroit's most famous landmarks. A drawing of the statue is often seen. It is the main part of many city department logos. It is also on logos for city services.

During the 1980s, a copy of the statue was on the Detroit Police Department's badge. It was also on the sides of their police cars. An image of the statue is on the "Spirit of Detroit Award" certificate. The Detroit City Council gives this award. It honors people, events, or groups. They must have done something great for the people of Detroit. The sculpture is also the main image on Detroit Community Scrip.

Sports and Celebrations

The Spirit of Detroit often supports local sports teams. It is sometimes dressed in sports jerseys. This happens when local professional teams are playing in the playoffs. More and more groups wanted the statue to wear jerseys. This led to worries about damaging the sculpture.

Starting in 2017, new rules were made. To have a jersey displayed, a team must win a championship. They also have to pay $25,000. This payment helps cover the costs of restoring the statue. This includes cleaning, reapplying the green color, and waxing. The sculpture's image is also part of the crest for the Detroit City Football Club.

The sculpture has also been part of art events. In 1999, it wore a tuxedo. This was when the Three Tenors visited the city. In 2019, a part of the John C. Lodge Freeway was named after Aretha Franklin. The ceremony happened in front of the statue. Spirit Plaza was also the site of a flower tribute. This included 3,000 roses. It celebrated Big Sean's Detroit 2 album release on September 4, 2020.

In Movies and Games

The Spirit of Detroit represents the city in media. It has appeared in video games too. It was in the 2011 Chrysler 200 Super Bowl commercial. This ad was called "Born of Fire". It showed Eminem and famous Detroit places. The statue also appeared in the 2018 video game Detroit: Become Human.

Helping During Tough Times

In 2020, The Spirit of Detroit wore a blue-green shirt. It also had a white ribbon. This was to honor health care and essential workers. They worked hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two people put up the large polyester shirt. It was 420 square feet. The ribbon was three feet long.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Spirit of Detroit para niños