County of statue: Franklin County
Location of statue: E. 4th St., next to City Hall, Washington
Sculptor: Sabra Tull Meyer
Dedicated May 15, 2004
Bust of George Washington next to city hall...some blogger said it is on the courthouse lawn....but Washington is NOT the county seat..
This bust of George has the traditional wig for hair preparation, but the dress is different than any I have seen.
A normal frock coat, not the normally shown high collar military coat. And a frilled and fluffy front to his dress shirt.
The statue is to point out the fact this town was "Named after George Washington after it came under American control, the town was first settled during the rule of the Spanish Empire. It was originally called St. John Meyer's Settlement and was the site of the Spanish log fort, San Juan del Misuri (1796–1803)." ~ Wikipedia
Text on Statue Base:
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Permanent settlers began arriving in the area of present-day Washington, Missouri, in the 1790s. After former United States President George Washington died at his Virginia estate in 1799, numerous cities, counties and a state were named in his honor.
It is unknown who first called the Missouri River Port here "Washington Landing." When Lucinda Owens filed the plat of the town on May 29, 19839, it had officially became known as Washington.
This monument to our city's namesake, George Washington, was dedicated to the citizens of the City of Washington on May 15, 2004
Sculptor Sabra Tull Meyer
"George Washington (1732-99) was commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) and served two terms as the first U.S. president, from 1789 to 1797. The son of a prosperous planter, Washington was raised in colonial Virginia. As a young man, he worked as a surveyor then fought in the French and Indian War (1754-63). During the American Revolution, he led the colonial forces to victory over the British and became a national hero. In 1787, he was elected president of the convention that wrote the U.S. Constitution. Two years later, Washington became America’s first president. Realizing that the way he handled the job would impact how future presidents approached the position, he handed down a legacy of strength, integrity and national purpose. Less than three years after leaving office, he died at his Virginia plantation, Mount Vernon, at age 67." ~ The History Channel, A&E Television Networks