A new statue by Alan LeQuire was unveiled today at Centennial Park honoring the women of Tennessee who fought for women’s right to vote. From The Tennessean, the women depicted are:
Anne Dallas Dudley of Nashville; Abby Crawford Milton of Chattanooga; J. Frankie Pierce of Nashville; Sue Shelton White of Jackson; and Carrie Chapman Catt, national suffrage leader who came to Tennessee to direct the pro-suffrage forces from the Hermitage Hotel.
LeQuire, of course, is responsible for perhaps the most famous piece of public art in Nashville, the Musica statue on the traffic circle at the north end of Music Row. This newest work is likely to attract a lot less controversy and probably fewer dress-up pranks! No doubt though this statue will probably feature in political rallies in the future. The site itself was chosen because Centennial Park was frequently used by Nashville suffragists for rallies and marches in their quest for the vote.
I’ll add a clean view of the statue to this post later – obviously I wasn’t going to get one in the midst of the unveiling. (And speeches – way too many speeches.)
Located on the other side of a roughly circular green space from the front (east) side of the Parthenon. There is plenty of parking in and around Centennial Park, particularly if you are willing to walk a bit, and given how nice the park is, why not?
UPDATE: Here’s an unobstructed view.
February 17, 2020 at 1:30 am
Thanks for featuring the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Monument. The unveiling in August 2016 was a prelude to the 100th Anniversary coming up in 2020. The large sign “Mr President. . .” was made by my daughter who is featured in your picture, holding the sign and I am standing nexxt to her. As the founder of the monument and the non-profit that raised almost a million dollars in private donations, we are excited that 2020 has finally arrived. We will have a dedication of the monument in its new location with a ‘plaza’ surrounding it and the names of donors on the walls. The dedication will be on August 18, 2020 near the statue and is being planned by our Board of nine women. by Alma Sanford, Nashville Tennessee
February 17, 2020 at 1:35 am
That was very early in my blogging career. I remember it was very hot that day. Appropriate, as I understand it was very hot that whole season when the amendment was being debated. I hope to make the event this August.