The Rocket Thrower
Posted by: 
spikes03
N 28° 34.303 W 081° 22.015
17R E 464115 N 3160591
The Rocket Thrower
Waymark Code: WM2H3R
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 11/03/2007
Views: 104
The Rocket Thrower is a massive bronze sculpture designed by Donald De Lue (1897–1988) for the New York World’s Fair of 1964-65. The work is in keeping with one of the central themes of that fair - space exploration - and complements several other significant features in the park, such as the Court of Astronauts, Fountain of the Planets, Space Park and the Unisphere.
He designed the Rocket Thrower as a heroic, 43-foot high bronze figure hurling a rocket heavenward with his right hand, and reaching for a constellation of gilded stars with his left; this version was based on designs for the theme of “man conquering space,” which De Lue prepared in the late 1950s for the Union Carbide Building (270 Park Avenue, now occupied by Chase Bank offices). In 1962, De Lue was issued a contract to make the Rocket Thrower, and given less than six months to execute the work at a cost of $105,000. By June 1963, the full plaster model was done and shipped to Italy, where casting at the Fonda Artista in Via Reggio took almost a year. The sculpture was installed just prior to the fair’s opening on April 22, 1964.
Located at the entrance to Loch Haven Park on Elgin St. in Orlando, Fl. off of E. Princeton St. (in between the Orlando Science Center and REP)
Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: The Rocket Thrower
Figure Type: Human
Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Donald De Lue
Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: April 1964
Materials used: Bronze
Location: Loch Haven Park
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