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Top 14 Famous Statues in Austin

November 13, 2014 by J. Alan Nelson 8 Comments

Statues become mental landmarks of people, animals, fantastic beings from creative minds…and legends.

Observing a statue can be a zen like or aesthetic experience. Or for those who love to do statue art, it’s a convivial fun fest of reactions and poses for statue photos.

Here are 14 famous statues in Austin you should include on your next public statue pilgrimage:

#1 Lady Hare With Dog

Lady Hare with Dog Sculpture in Austin

Lady Hare with Dog

Sophie Ryder’s mythical creatures stand throughout the world. Lady Hare With Dog is near the Zach Theatre and it’s a classic Ryder work. The figure of the hare holding the dog is funny, poignant and compelling.

1510 Toomey Rd

#2 Angelina Eberly

Angelina Eberly Statue in Austin

Angelina Eberly (Credit: Carlos Lowry via Flickr CC)

The woman who saved Austin. This bronze commemorates the woman who fired a cannon to stop the transfer of state archives by Republic of Texas President Sam Houston in 1842. Most historians believe Eberly is the primary reason Austin remained the capital of Texas.

North of 6th St on Congress Ave

#3 Diana the Huntress

Diana the Huntress in Austin TX

Diana the Huntress

This 1927 statue, created by sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, stands in a quiet courtyard at The University of Texas. It is beautiful by day and comes alive at night. As the story goes, an 18 year old Bette Davis posed for this statue. You be the judge.

Quadrangle between Carothers, Andrews, Blanton and Littlefield dormitories south of Dean Keaton between Whitis Ave and University Ave

#4 Philosophers’ Rock

Philosopher's Rock Statue at UT Austin

Philosopher’s Rock (Credit: Visual Coyote via Flickr CC)

Santa Fe artist Glenna Goodacre created this statue to commemorate the meeting of writer J. Frank Dobie, historian Walter Prescott Webb and naturalist Roy Bedicheck at Barton Springs. Sit with them and hear their stories.

2201 Barton Springs Rd

#5-7 Odd Bedfellows at UT Tower

George Washington Statue University of Texas

George Washington

Jefferson Davis, Woodrow Wilson and George Washington make an odd grouping of politicians in the capital of Texas. One explanation is that these three are the “holy trinity of world politics.” Jefferson Davis represents the epitome of states’ rights, George Washington symbolizes a strong, national government or federalism, and Woodrow Wilson, who developed the forerunner of the United Nations, is the symbol of the planet’s nations creating a world government.

South of UT Tower near intersection of Whitis Ave and University Ave

Jefferson Davis Statue on University of Texas Campus

Jefferson Davis

Woodrow Wilson Statue on UT Campus

Woodrow Wilson

#8 The Torch Bearers

The Torch Bearers Statue by Umlauf

The Torch Bearers (Credit: Mark via Flickr CC)

This stunning work is located by Flawn Academic Center at UT Austin. Created by Charles Umlauf in 1963, the figures are the embody the passing of knowledge from teacher to student.

Southside of Flawn Academic Center, 2400 Inner Campus Dr

#9 Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue

Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue in Austin

Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue (Credit: Knowsphotos via Flickr CC)

This figure of the musician who has a Stratocaster guitar named after him is at Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake. Vaughan, who played a number of concerts there, is well remembered for his musical talent and influence on future Austin musicians.

800 W Riverside Dr

#10 Mustangs

Mustangs Statue in Austin TX

Mustangs

This piece by Alexander Phimister Proctor is exciting. Children often climb happily on the horses. Located at the Texas Memorial Museum, the inscription (by J. Frank Dobie) reads: “Mustangs. They carried the men who made Texas.”

2400 Trinity St

#11 Nightwing

Nightwing Statue in Austin

Nightwing

Known in common parlance as “The Bat,” this unique sculpture is mounted on a concrete base that slowly spins. When the 1.5 million+ Mexican free-tailed bats aren’t spilling from under the Congress Avenue Bridge, this piece is a nice substitute for viewing the world’s largest urban bat colony.

300 S Congress Ave

#12 Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan Statue in Austin

Barbara Jordan

Artist Bruce Wolfe captured this civil rights activist’s personality, down to the way she held her spectacles. This is a must on your Austin public statue pilgrimage.

24th St and Whitis Ave

Barbara Jordan's Spectacles in Sculpture

Barbara Jordan’s spectacles

#13 Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson Statue in Austin

Willie Nelson (Credit: Mark Stevens via Flickr CC)

This is one of those statues that represents a legend who still walks Austin’s streets. Created by Clete Shields, Willie Nelson’s statue is at the corner of 2nd Street and Lavaca Avenue.

310 Willie Nelson Blvd

#14 Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez Statue in Austin TX

Cesar Chavez

This sculpture of the social activist by Pablo Eduardo is gripping. This statue, as well as the Barbara Jordan statue, was largely funded by Austin students.

Southwest of UT Tower near West Mall Office Building

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

This list is by no means complete or the holy canon of Austin public statues. What are your favorite Austin statues? Feel free to comment!

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J. Alan Nelson
J. Alan Nelson
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Filed Under: Arts, Culture, History Tagged With: umlauf

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Comments

  1. Jann Alexander says

    November 13, 2014 at 8:28 am

    Love this roundup. But what’s sorely lacking are the names and some detail of the amazing sculptors, excellent artists all. And of course the Umlauf Sculpture Garden.

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    • Brittany Highland says

      November 13, 2014 at 12:25 pm

      You’re right, @Jann. There’s so much more that could be said! Hopefully this list will inspire readers to get out into the community and explore for themselves. Regarding the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, we recently published a dedicated piece about it which you can read here: http://austinot.wpengine.com/umlauf-sculpture-garden.

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  2. mpcrider says

    November 13, 2014 at 9:21 pm

    If you photograph Washington’s statue from 2 o’clock (looks like you got him at 8 o’clock) it gives a pretty funny angle on the sword. Especially as the base says that the statue was erected by the DAR.

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  3. oldermaybewizer says

    November 15, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Great representative collection! I used to work with a woman named Eberly in Wisconsin – this reminded me that I always meant to ask if Angelina was any relation. I discovered many of these sculptures while doing the interactive Austin tour, which I would highly recommend!

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  4. Sue Reading says

    December 22, 2014 at 8:42 am

    Thanks for spotlighting these statues. The Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, by the way, was created by sculptor Ralph Helmick.

    Log in to Reply
  5. guest says

    April 20, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    It’s indoors, but the Barbara Jordan statue at ABIA is impressive. Also, the recumbent soldier, Albert Sidney Johnson at the State Cemetery. And all of the Pompeo Coppini statues on the Capitol grounds.

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  6. Vincent Salas says

    August 18, 2015 at 4:25 pm

    There are statues, and there are monumental sculptures. Capital Area Statues, Inc. (CAST) is the local non-profit that commissioned Philosopher’s Rock, Angelina Eberly, and Willie — all three were gifts to the city and all three in the top 14. Monumental!

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