Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial, Bronze memorial statue in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States.
The Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial is an eight-foot-tall bronze sculpture in Council Bluffs showing an angel holding a water basin. The figure stands on a pink marble pedestal shaped like a ship's prow at the intersection of Lafayette Avenue and North Second Street near Fairview Cemetery.
The memorial was created in 1916 by Daniel Chester French, the sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial statue, to honor Ruth Anne Dodge. She was the wife of railroad pioneer Grenville Dodge, whose business ventures shaped the region.
The memorial expresses deep spiritual meaning through its depiction of divine encounter, which resonates with visitors seeking connection to Ruth Anne Dodge's story. People come to this place to contemplate the vision that defined her final days.
The memorial sits at a public intersection in Council Bluffs and is easily accessible during daylight hours. Visitors should explore the site during the day to fully appreciate the sculptural details and marble work.
The memorial has been the subject of local folklore about supernatural occurrences, with the most intriguing accounts documented in early travel records. These stories have anchored the monument in the community's memory as a place of mystery beyond its artistic value.
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