Statue of Alexander Hamilton (Chicago) explained

Alexander Hamilton statue
Height:13feet
Complete:1939
Designer:John Angel
Dedicated To:Alexander Hamilton
Dedicated:1952
Material:Bronze (with gilding)
Granite (pedestal)
Weight:3500lb
Location:Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States

The Alexander Hamilton statue is a monumental statue of Alexander Hamilton in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Located in the city's Lincoln Park, the monument was installed in 1952, having been completed several years prior in 1939.

History

The monument honoring Alexander Hamilton was proposed by philanthropist Kate Sturges Buckingham before her death in 1937. Her will included a $1 million earmark to the Art Institute of Chicago for monument's construction.[1] Buckingham felt that Hamilton was an underappreciated figure in the creation of the United States,[2] and before her death, she commissioned sculptor John Angel to design a statue of Hamilton and architect Eliel Saarinen to create an 80feet column that the statue would rest on. The statue was completed in 1939, while the column idea was never executed. Following this, the statue would remain in storage for over 12 years due to bronze shortages during World War II. The monument was dedicated in Lincoln Park in 1952, accompanied by a large plinth behind it made of limestone and granite designed by Samuel A. Marx. However, this plinth was later removed in October 1993,[3] and shortly thereafter the monument was placed on a new, red granite pedestal. In 2016, the statue underwent a $52,000 renovation that included an extensive re-gilding.[4]

Design

The monument is 13feet[5] and weighs 3500lb.

See also

External links

41.9317°N -87.6385°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weiss. Hedy. July 6, 2016. Re-gilding Chicago's Alexander Hamilton — the statue. September 17, 2020. Chicago Sun-Times. en.
  2. Book: Krehl, Donald. Monumental Chicago. 2011. Lulu.com . 978-1-105-28056-6. en. Google Books.
  3. Web site: Mullen. William. May 8, 1994. SOME OVERDUE PUBLICITY. September 17, 2020. Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. en-US.
  4. Web site: Weiss. Hedy. July 10, 2017. WEISS: All that glitters is too garish for refurbished Hamilton statue. September 17, 2020. Chicago Sun-Times. en.
  5. Web site: June 21, 2015. While Alexander Hamilton's Image On $10 Bill Will Be Diminished, He Can Still Be Seen Prominently In Chicago. September 17, 2020. WBBM-TV. en-US.