And here we are at our final stop, the Spirit of the Confederacy! This bronze sculpture used to be right here in Sam Houston Park, but it has since been relocated to the Houston Museum of African American Culture.
The statue was put up in 1908 by a local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Can you believe it took them nine years to collect the $7,500 they needed? Talk about dedication!
So, this sculpture shows an angel holding a sword and palm branch. Quite a powerful sight, I must say. It was dedicated to all the heroes of the South who fought for the principles of States Rights. And let me tell you, they were excited to unveil it on Robert E. Lee's birthday in January of that year.
You know, some people had mixed feelings about this monument. Especially in recent years after incidents like the Charleston church shooting and the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Some thought it celebrated slavery and racism, while others believed it was an important piece of history. It was definitely a heated topic of conversation, to say the least.
Well, ultimately, the decision was made to relocate this statue, along with another Confederate monument in Houston. The plan was already in the works, but the events following the death of George Floyd gave it that extra push. The Spirit of the Confederacy was officially removed on June 16, 2020, and arrived at its new home at the Houston Museum of African American Culture on August 18.
And with that, our tour of Houston comes to an end. I hope you had a great time exploring the city with me! If you have any questions or if there's anything else I can assist you with, just let me know.
