Statue of James Cook (Anchorage, Alaska) explained
The Captain Cook Monument is a life-size bronze statue of Captain James Cook installed in Anchorage, Alaska's Resolution Park.[1]
History
During the third voyage of James Cook to discover the Northwest Passage, much of what would later be named the Cook Inlet was explored in 1778 by HMS Resolution. In 1976, a statue of James Cook created by Derek Freeborn was installed in Resolution Park in Downtown Anchorage.[2] The statue is a replica of one in the city's sister city, Whitby, England, and was donated by British Petroleum to commemorate the United States Bicentennial.[3] [4]
In 2008, the statue appeared on the finale of The Amazing Race 12.[5]
In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, some residents sought the removal of the statue due to Cook's links to colonialism and exploitation of Indigenous people.[6] [7] On June 25, 2020, Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz stated that the native village of Eklutna would determine the monument's fate.[8]
Notes and References
- Book: DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Alaska. DK Travel. 2015. 75. 9781465449429 . 2020-08-16. 2022-08-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20220826143401/https://www.google.com/books/edition/DK_Eyewitness_Travel_Guide_Alaska/54QgCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1. live.
- Web site: RESOLUTION PARK ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, U.S.A.. Captain Cook Society. August 16, 2020. June 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200627205136/https://www.captaincooksociety.com/home/detail/resolution-park-anchorage-alaska-usa. live.
- Web site: City weighs response to calls on social media for the removal of Anchorage's statue of Captain James Cook. Anchorage Daily News. Wieber. Aubrey. June 22, 2020. July 27, 2020. July 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200729020650/https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2020/06/18/city-weighs-response-to-calls-on-social-media-for-the-removal-of-anchorages-statue-of-captain-james-cook/. live.
- Web site: Capt. Cook Statue Faces Comedown in Anchorage. Daily Sitka Sentinel. June 22, 2020. July 27, 2020. June 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200627054150/http://sitkasentinel.com/7/2012-05-10-22-08-10/81-ap-news/16777-capt-cook-statue-faces-comedown-in-anchorage. live.
- Web site: Rachel Rosales and TK Erwin win 'The Amazing Race 12'. Reality TV World. Rocchio. Christopher. January 21, 2008. August 16, 2020. January 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210119054459/https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/rachel-rosales-and-tk-erwin-win-the-amazing-race-12-6424.php. live.
- Web site: Resolution asks Anchorage mayor to engage public on fate of Capt. Cook monument. Davidson. Joel. July 13, 2020. August 16, 2020. September 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930003333/https://alaskawatchman.com/2020/07/13/resolution-asks-anchorage-mayor-to-engage-public-on-fate-of-capt-cook-monument/. live.
- Web site: Future of Captain Cook statue discussed by Sister City Commission. KTVA. Mazurek. Mega. June 24, 2020. July 25, 2020. June 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200626030927/https://www.ktva.com/story/42287033/future-of-captain-cook-statue-discussed-by-sister-city-commission. live.
- Web site: Native Village of Eklutna will decide what to do with Captain Cook statue in downtown Anchorage. Anchorage Daily News. Wieber. Aubrey. June 25, 2020. July 27, 2020. July 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716020216/https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2020/06/25/mayor-berkowitz-to-have-native-village-of-eklutna-decide-what-to-do-with-downtown-captain-cook-statue/. live.
