Leo the Lion - Dayton, Ohio - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

Leo the Lion was the mascot for Steele High School. When the old Steele High School was torn down in 1955, the lion was relocated to the front lawn of the Dayton Art Institute.

From the Smithsonian AIC Remarks:

Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington was commissioned to create this lion after a previous lion sculpture purchased by the Steele High School Decorative Arts Association had deteriorated. The artist made a small clay model of a lion which was unanimously accepted by the Steele High School Decorative Arts Association. In 1907, the artist was commissioned to make an enlarged bronze casting of the lion. The casting was paid for with more than $300 in nickels collected by Steele students. The artist went to Naples to supervise the casting and later attended the dedication ceremony.
During the flood of 1913, the lion was knocked off of its base and the base was destroyed. Funds were collected for a new base and the sculpture was reinstalled on Oct. 7, 1914. When the old Steele High School was torn down in 1955, the lion was relocated to the front lawn of the Dayton Art Institute. In 1989-1990, Steele alumni again raised funds for the sculpture's restoration which was handled by Karkadoulias Bronze Art in Cincinnati. The sculpture was cleaned in July 1995.

The following inscriptions can be found in the base metal of the sculpture:
"Anna V. Hyatt
Naples
1908"
&
"Sab=de Angelis
& Fils."

A plaque on the front concrete base, facing east, reads:

LEO Steele High School Mascot Anna Hyatt Huntington, sculptor Present in 1908 Restored by Alumni and Friends Sponsored by the Class of 1931 1989

A plaque, facing north, on the right side of the concrete base (Leo's left) reads:

"Leo" The Steele Lion Dedicated 12-11-1909 Reset 10-7-1914, after 1913 Flood Moved to Dayton Art Institute 9-30-1955 Rededicated 9-1-1986, by the Steele High School Class of 1936 Anna V. H. Huntington, sculptor 1908

TITLE: Leo the Lion ARTIST(S): sculptor : Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington (1876-1973), founder: Sabatino de Angelis & Fils DATE: Commissioned 1907. 1908. Dedicated Dec. 11, 1909. Reinstalled Oct. 7, 1914. Relocated Sept. 30, 1955. Rededicated Sept. 1, 1986 MEDIUM: Sculpture: bronze; Base: stone CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 75006821 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Dayton Art Institute 456 Belmonte Park North Front west lawn Dayton, Ohio 45405 DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: Minor grammar differences in transcriptions.

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