Pink Dolphin Monument, LGBT sculpture at R.A. Apffel Park, East Beach, Galveston Island, US
The Pink Dolphin Monument is a sandstone sculpture of a dolphin placed on a tall pedestal in R.A. Apffel Park at East Beach. The sculpture faces the Gulf of Mexico and features an inscribed poem that tells the story of what it commemorates.
The monument was installed in 2014 and became the first public tribute in the American South dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community. Its creation marked a turning point in how southern cities acknowledged minority histories and voices.
The monument honors the Pink Dolphin Tavern, which served as a gathering place for the local LGBTQ+ community in Galveston. Visitors come here to connect with this community's history and find meaning in its symbols.
The monument sits right on the beach and is easy to access from nearby parking and pathways. Sunset provides the best light for viewing and photography, and the surrounding park has benches where you can read the inscription.
The artist carved 243 small triangular chips from the original stone and scattered them across Galveston Island as hidden tributes. These hidden pieces create an invisible network linking the main monument to the wider island community.
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