Apotheosis of Saint Louis - Saint Louis
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 38° 38.392 W 090° 17.644
15S E 735514 N 4280287
This statue is at the top of Art Hill in Forest Park, St Louis, Missouri.
Waymark Code: WM7WQ
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 02/21/2006
Views: 117
The original plaster model of this statue of the Crusader King, Louis IX of France, stood at the main entrance to the 1904 World's Fair. After the fair the Louisiana Exposition Committee decided to have the statue recast in bronze and present it to the City of St Louis. They approached Charles H.Niehaus the original sculptor, who offered to cast it in bronze for $90,000 a price that was too high and it was canceled. A local firm, W. R. Hodges, proposed to complete the project for $37,500. The artist protested and sued for ownership rights, but the commission accepted the Hodges offer and the statue was replicated. Seven months after the dedication of the new gift, the artist was awarded $3,000 in payment with the stipulation that the pedestal be inscribed "Designed by C.H. Niehaus."
The Apotheosis of St. Louis was the symbol of St Louis for many years until the Gateway Arch was adopted as the symbol.