Now, take a look at this magnificent piece of art. It's located at the northwest corner of Literary Walk along The Mall, which just so happens to be the widest pedestrian path in all of Central Park. Impressive, right?
This sculpture pays homage to three remarkable women who were true pioneers in the suffrage movement - Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. These incredible ladies fought tirelessly for women's rights, including their right to vote. They were trailblazers in the larger movement for women's rights, and we owe them a big thank you for that.
You know, it's pretty fascinating that this is actually the first sculpture in Central Park to depict historical women. Can you believe it? I mean, we've got statues of fictional characters like Alice in Wonderland and Juliet from Romeo and Juliet, but these three extraordinary women finally broke the bronze ceiling!
Originally, the plan was just to have statues of Stanton and Anthony, but thankfully, people raised objections to the lack of inclusion of women of color. And that's when the amazing Sojourner Truth was added to the design. It's important to celebrate the achievements of women from all walks of life, don't you think?
The creation of this monument was no small feat either. The Statue Fund/Monumental Women campaign worked tirelessly, raising a whopping $1.5 million in mostly private funding. Girl Scouts even contributed from their cookie sales, and New York Life gave a generous grant of $500,000. Talk about teamwork!
Meredith Bergmann, the sculptor behind this masterpiece, was chosen out of 91 artists who applied for the commission. And let me tell you, she did an outstanding job. The initial design featured Anthony and Stanton side by side, with a long scroll tumbling into a ballot box. However, there was a little controversy about including the names of other suffragettes on the scroll. The New York Times even mentioned that Anthony and Stanton "are standing on the names of these other women." But hey, art is subjective, right?
The New York City Public Design Commission eventually approved Bergmann's design, and on August 26, 2020, the statue was unveiled right here in Central Park. What a fantastic way to celebrate Women's Equality Day and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote!
It's incredible to think that back in 1995, Meredith Bergmann noticed the lack of sculptures honoring accomplished women while working on a film set in Central Park. And now, 23 years later, she was chosen to create this beautiful tribute to women's suffrage. Dreams really do come true!
So, my friend, take a moment to appreciate this remarkable Women's Rights Pioneers Monument and the courageous women it represents. Let's continue our journey through Central Park, shall we? There's still so much more to see!
