Great White Whale (Moby Dick) - Pittsfield, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 27.308 W 073° 15.104
18T E 643753 N 4701791
A granite sculpture of the Great White Whale, a.k.a. Moby Dick, is located on the corner of North and Maplewood streets in Pittsfield, MA
Waymark Code: WMHGP1
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 07/09/2013
Views: 6
Herman Melville lived in Pittsfield, MA in a home he called Arrowhead between 1850 - 1863. During this time he wrote his most famous novel - Moby Dick. The namesake of this allegorical novel was a sperm whale often described as a "Great White Whale". The plot of the novel centers around Captain Ahab's obsession with hunting down this whale.
It's appropriate that a granite sculpture of Captain Ahab's nemesis is on display in Pittsfield, MA. A 5' long granite sculpture of the Great White Whale was created by local artist C. R. Gray. It occupies a prominent position in a small park on busy U.S. Route 7, North Street in 2012.
The bottom of the whale is touching a boulder. The massive head and the flukes are curve upwards suggesting that the whale is breeching.
The work is part of the City of Pittsfield’s Artscape program, the aim of which is to "enhance the downtown’s character and attract visitors by installing and promoting works of art in various outdoor locations accessible to the public throughout the downtown area". The theme for 2012 was Melville Inspired Art.
Character Type: Literature
Character originator: Herman Melville
Internet Link: [Web Link]
Address or Location:
North Street
at Maplewood Street
Pittsfield, MA
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Visit Instructions:Provide a picture of the statue or something at the site relating to it.
You can be in the photo if you desire.