| Monument Name: | Branson Cross |
| Location: | Walnut Shade, Branson, Missouri, United States |
| Designer: | Kerry Brown |
| Material: | 1-inch thick plate steel |
| Height: | 218 feet (66.45m) |
| Begin: | August, 2018[1] |
| Complete: | September, 2018[2] |
| Open: | April 21, 2019 |
| Dedicated To: | Jesus Christ |
Branson Cross is a large structure in the shape of a crucifix located in Walnut Shade, Missouri near Branson, Missouri. At 218 feet (66.45m) tall, it is claimed to be the largest cross in North America.[3] The cross is among the ten largest such structures in the world.[4] The Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce held a ceremony in April, 2019 to declare the monument open to the public.[2]
The cross is painted white with blue teardrop shaped embellishments. The designer explained that the vertical teardrops are "representative of new beginnings" and a reference to the eight people saved in Noah's Ark.[5] The horizontal teardrops reflect the suffering of Jesus Christ during his crucifixion, with "3 nail wounds, the spear in the side and the crown of thorns".[5]
Construction began in August 2018.[1] The cross was originally planned to be built on a 16-acre plot of land, however a further 14-acres of adjacent land were subsequently purchased during the construction phase.[6] The cross is constructed from one inch thick plate steel, and is composed of eight sections with bolts securing it in place.[6] The cross can withstand gusts of wind up to 75 miles per hour. The construction of the cross cost at least $3 million, largely funded through gifts and donations by the public.[6] The cross was assembled and installed by Headrick's Cross Company, a fabrication and installation firm that has worked on similar cruciform monument projects elsewhere.[7] According to the fabricator, the cross weighs 450,000 pounds (204.12 metric tonnes).[8]