Sam Houston, Equestrian monument in Hermann Park, Houston, United States
The Sam Houston Monument is a bronze equestrian sculpture by Enrico Cerracchio, installed at the northwest corner of Hermann Park in Houston. Modeled on Stephen Seymour Thomas's painting General Sam Houston at San Jacinto, it shows Houston in military attire and a long cape, bearded and pointing with his right arm. The bronze measures about 20 by 20 by 9 feet and sits on a gray granite arch by Frank Teich with a Lone Star on its keystone.
A monument circle at the site was proposed by landscape architect George Kessler in his 1916 plan for Hermann Park. From 1917 the Houston Chronicle collected funds for the work: $75,000 in all, with $40,000 from the Women's City Club, $10,000 from the city and $25,000 from the state. Enrico Cerracchio's design, chosen from entries shown at the Humble Oil Building, was dedicated on August 16, 1925.
The statue was modeled on Stephen Seymour Thomas's painting General Sam Houston at San Jacinto, and Houston is shown in military attire and a long cape, pointing with his right arm. The granite arch beneath him carries a Lone Star on its keystone. Since 1993, fifth-graders at Bunker Hill Elementary have raised money each year for the monument's care.
The monument stands at the northwest corner of Hermann Park, in the circle proposed in George Kessler's 1916 park plan. The bronze and its gray granite arch are outdoors and free to approach at any hour; the City of Houston's Municipal Arts Commission oversees the work. Look up at the keystone of the arch for the Lone Star carved there.
The gray granite arch beneath the bronze was carved by Frank Teich, and its keystone carries a Lone Star. Since 1993, fifth-graders at Bunker Hill Elementary have raised money for the monument's care, funding an $18,000 restoration in 2006 and donating more than $71,000 in total.
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