Dr. Seuss Memorial Explained

The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is a sculpture garden at the Quadrangle in Springfield, Massachusetts, which honors Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, who was born in Springfield in 1904.^[1] The monument was designed by Lark Grey Dimond-Cates, the author's stepdaughter, and created by sculptor and artist Ron Henson.^{[2] [3]}

History

Halfway through her Masters program, Diamond-Cates was approached by Joseph Carvalho and former Museums chairman Thomas Wheeler to help design a memorial for her step-father. She accepted, and spent six and a half years designing and creating the project.^[4]

The sculpture garden opened 1 June 2002.^[5] The opening ceremony was attended by Geisel's relatives including his widow Audrey Geisel and senator Ted Kennedy.^[6]

The adjacent The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum includes an exhibit on the sculpture garden's creation.^[7]

Statues

The sculpture garden features five large bronze statues:

• Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat: The title character of The Cat in the Hat standing alongside Dr. Seuss at his desk.
• The Storyteller: A chair placed in front of a 10adj=midNaNadj=mid book with the text of Oh, the Places You'll Go!, the title character from Gertrude McFuzz, and beside it, the Grinch and his dog, Max.
• Horton Court: Horton the Elephant from Horton Hears a Who! steps out of an open book accompanied by various ancillary characters from other Dr. Seuss stories, including Thing 1 and Thing 2 from The Cat in the Hat.
• The Lorax: The titular character from The Lorax stands on a tree stump with the book's refrain: Unless... This statue is located in front of the Springfield Science Museum, which features exhibits on global warming and environmental science.
• Yertle the Turtle: a 10adj=midNaNadj=mid tower of turtles, from Yertle the Turtle, which introduces visitors to the Quadrangle from the arch on Chestnut Street.

References

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Notes and References

1. Web site: 2015-09-28 . Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden . 2023-02-22 . Springfield Museums . en-US.
2. Web site: Chamber welcomes new member. 21 November 2010. Mt. Shasta Chamber Weblog. Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce. 11 October 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111003012051/http://mtshastachamber.com/blog/2010/11/chamber-welcomes-new-member/. 3 October 2011.
3. Web site: Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. Catinthehat.org. Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.. 11 October 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111005023851/http://www.catinthehat.org/memorial.htm. 5 October 2011.
4. Web site: Robbins . Carolyn . 2016-06-08 . Springfield Museums welcome Dr. Seuss' step-daughter to city . 2023-02-22 . masslive . en.
5. Web site: 2002-08-23 . Duluth author part of Dr. Seuss memorial . 2023-02-22 . Duluth News Tribune . en.
6. Web site: Audrey Geisel, wife of Dr. Seuss, through the years – masslive.com . 2023-02-22 . masslive . en.
7. Web site: mross . 2017-09-18 . Sal da Who: The Making of the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden . 2023-02-22 . Springfield Museums . en-US.