Statues - Hither & Thither

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Gering
Nebraska

10th Street / U Street
(Carl Gray Park)

Replica of the Statue of Liberty

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
1950

Description

Replica of the New York Statue of Liberty.

Inscription(s)

with the faith and courage of
their forefathers who made
possible the freedom of these
united states

THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERIC

dedicate this replica of the
statue of liberty as a pledge
of everlasting fidelity and
loyalty

40th anniversary crusade to
strengthen the arm of liberty
1950

Annotation

The Boy Scouts of America celebrated their fortieth anniversary in 1950 with the theme of "Strengthen the Arm of Liberty". Between 1949 and 1952, approximately two hundred replicas of the statue, made of stamped copper, were purchased by Boy Scout troops and donated in 39 states in the U.S. and several of its possessions and territories. The project was the brainchild of Kansas City businessman, J.P. Whitaker, who was then Scout Commissioner of the Kansas City Area Council.

The copper statues were manufactured by Friedley-Voshardt Co. (Chicago, Illinois) and purchased through the Kansas City Boy Scout office by those wanting one. The statues are approximately 2.6 m (8½ feet) tall without the base, constructed of sheet copper, weigh 130 kg (290 pounds), and originally cost $350 plus freight. The mass-produced statues are not great art nor meticulously accurate (a conservator notes that "her face isn't as mature as the real Liberty. It's rounder and more like a little girl's"), but they are cherished, particularly since 9/11. Many have been lost or destroyed, but preservationists have been able to account for about a hundred of them, and BSA Troop 101 of Cheyenne, Wyoming has collected photographs of over 100 of them.

Sculptor

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (Colmar 1834 - 1904), French sculptor who is remembered mainly for designing the Statue of Liberty (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, Strengthen the Arm of Liberty.

Locatie (N 41°49'48" - W 103°39'36") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: usne03; Photograph: 18 October 2010
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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