The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is a sculpture garden at the Quadrangle in Springfield, Massachusetts, which honors Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, who was born in Springfield in 1904.[1] The monument was designed by Lark Grey Dimond-Cates, the author's stepdaughter, and created by sculptor and artist Ron Henson.[2][3]
History
editHalfway through her Masters program, Diamond-Cates was approached by Joseph Carvalho and former Museums chairman Thomas Wheeler to help design a memorial for her step-father. She accepted, and spent six and a half years designing and creating the project.[4]
The sculpture garden opened 1 June 2002.[5] The opening ceremony was attended by Geisel's relatives including his widow Audrey Geisel and senator Ted Kennedy.[5][6]
The adjacent The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum includes an exhibit on the sculpture garden's creation.[7]
Statues
edit
The sculpture garden features five large bronze statues:
- Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat: The title character of The Cat in the Hat standing alongside Dr. Seuss at his desk.
- The Storyteller: A chair placed in front of a 10-foot-tall (3.0 m) book with the text of Oh, the Places You'll Go!, the title character from Gertrude McFuzz, and beside it, the Grinch and his dog, Max.
- Horton Court: Horton the Elephant from Horton Hears a Who! steps out of an open book accompanied by various ancillary characters from other Dr. Seuss stories, including Thing 1 and Thing 2 from The Cat in the Hat.
- The Lorax: The titular character from The Lorax stands on a tree stump with the book's refrain: Unless... This statue is located in front of the Springfield Science Museum, which features exhibits on global warming and environmental science.
- Yertle the Turtle: a 10-foot-tall (3.0 m) tower of turtles, from Yertle the Turtle, which introduces visitors to the Quadrangle from the arch on Chestnut Street.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden". Springfield Museums. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Chamber welcomes new member". Mt. Shasta Chamber Weblog. Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce. 21 November 2010. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden". Catinthehat.org. Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- ^ Robbins, Carolyn (8 June 2016). "Springfield Museums welcome Dr. Seuss' step-daughter to city". masslive. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Duluth author part of Dr. Seuss memorial". Duluth News Tribune. 23 August 2002. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Audrey Geisel, wife of Dr. Seuss, through the years – masslive.com". masslive. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ mross (18 September 2017). "Sal da Who: The Making of the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden". Springfield Museums. Retrieved 22 February 2023.