The sculpture called 'Legacy' is located outside the Piermaster's House in the Albert Dock, overlooking the River Mersey.
The sculpture was created in 2001, by Mark DeGraffenried at a studio 4,000 miles away in Utah, and donated by the Mormon Church.
"This statue of a young family commemorates migration from Liverpool to the new world.
It was given to the people of Liverpool by the Mormon Church as a tribute to the many families from all over Europe who embarked on a brave and pioneering voyage from Liverpool to start a new life in America.
It is estimated that in total approximately nine million people emigrated through the port.
The sculpture by Mark DeGraffenried is cast in bronze. The child stepping forward at the front symbolises migration to the unknown world whilst the child playing with a crab at the back indicates a deep association with the sea.
Accession number MMM.2001.212.1" SOURCE: (
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A plaque on the plinth below the sculpture is inscribed as follows;
"'THE CROSSING'
BY MARK DEGRAFFENRIED
IN COMMEMORATION OF AN ESTIMATED 85,000
LATTER-DAY SAINTS WHO SAILED FROM EUROPE TO
AMERICA FROM 1851-1900.
WE THANK THIS CITY FOR CRADLING OUR ANCESTORS.
DONATED BY THE 2001 SEA TREK FOUNDATION
AND JAMES MOSES EX FAMILY"
"From DeGraffenried's website: "The Crossing" commission awarded by Seatrek Foundation. Four life-size emigrant families (each family consisted of a mother, father and two children) cast in bronze to commemorate our pioneer heritage from Europe. Permanent locations at Mersey Side Dock Maritime Museum, Liverpool England, Broad Street, Portsmouth England, and Albert Dock, Hull England. One life-size bronze on loan at Utah Cultural Celebration Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. DeGraffenried sculpted each piece as well as assisted with the bronze casting and installation of the finished sculptures.
The Pioneer Heritage Foundation were originally known as the Sea Trek Foundation, which was formed by a Salt Lake venture capitalist William Sadleir to charter three tall ships to take part in a re-creation of the Atlantic Ocean crossings by 19th century converts who emigrated to America. Unfortunately the venture ran up huge debts which it was unable to pay and was eventually saved by an affiliate of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints who then sued the Sea Trek Foundation for the money.
Fund raising to pay off the debt continues and "will come in $500 increments", Sadleir said, from people who want to have their family name and the name of an ancestor included on a bronze plaque to be displayed at one of several statuary monuments financed by Sea Trek. Some of those statues have been placed in port cities that Sea Trek stopped in, while others are completed but have yet to be placed in their destined locations." SOURCE: (
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An article about this sculpture by the BBC News on Monday 20 August 2001 reads as follows;
"'Mormon mass migration remembered'
Celebrations have been taking place in Liverpool to commemorate a major chapter in the city's history.
Tall ships, fireworks and music were all part of a day to remember Merseyside's place in the history of the Mormon Church.
An eight feet high statue was unveiled to mark the 85,000 people who passed through the port from 1851 heading for a new life in America.
Converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints flocked to America from Liverpool in the 19th Century, after church founder Joseph Smith called on them to create a new society in Utah.
Bronze gift
Two tall ships, the Sorlandet and the Mir, arrived in the city carrying descendants of those who made the original journey.
Norwegian vessel Sorlandet berthed at Liverpool's Albert Dock, and Russian square rigger Mir docked at the Pier Head.
The visits were part of the international Seatrek 2001 Festival to mark the 150th anniversary of the mass migration, with events in the UK and USA until October.
The bronze statue, weighing a ton, was unveiled at a private reception at the Museum of Liverpool Life.
The sculpture features a family group with a child stepping forward to symbolise the migration.
The work was made by Mark DeGraffenried at a studio 4,000 miles away in Utah, and donated by the Mormon Church.
The statue features a Mormon family.
Liverpool's lord mayor councillor Gerry Scott said: ''This is a fine gesture and one I am delighted to accept on behalf of the city.'"
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