Historic Route 66 - Praying Hands - Webb City, Missouri, USA. - National Scenic Byways on Waymarking.com

Sitting atop a 40 foot man-made hill, the 30 feet tall white hands grab the attention of passers by. They were created by local artist J.E. "Jack" Dawson in 1972. Each year, thousands of motorists and tourists on Route 66, view the statue and see the words on the placard facing the road: The words below the hands read: “Hands in prayer. World in peace.”

"The memorial started in 1970, when a 20-year-old student named Jack Dawson approached the Webb City Park Board and the Historical Society about an art piece he wished to build in the city’s King Jack Park. The organizations quickly approved the statue and encouraged local citizens and merchants to help fund the project.

Dawson began the work in his own backyard by creating a steel under structure covered with a metal lath. Curious locals said the sight resembled a gigantic bird cage. When the steelwork was ready for the white stucco covering in the fall of 1972, the hands were taken to a mound in the park, near Highway 71.
On April 28, 1974, the 32-foot, 100-ton memorial opened to the public at a dedication ceremony." Text Source: (visit link)

Address of Icon:
King Jack Park, W. Tracy St. Webb City, Missouri, USA.

More Info: (visit link)

Program: US State Program Website: [Web Link] Official Name: Missouri - Historic route 66 - Scenic Byway

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