Hannibal the United States Military Academy Mule - Highland Falls, NY

Hannibal

 the 

United States Military Academy Mule

Highland Falls, NY

N 41° 22.388 W 073° 57.833

Short Description:

 A monument to Hannibal the mascot of the United States Military Academy at West Point is located on the median between US Route 9W to SR 218 opposite the United States Military Academy Visitors Center and Museum.

Long Description:

A statue of Hannibal the most famous United States Military Academy mule, who was the mascot of West Point from 1947-1964, is depicted mounted by a West Point cadet. Hannibal is in apparent motion with its front right foot and left rear foot off the ground. The 15' high bronze statue was created by J. David Nunneley and erected in 2004 by the West Point Class of 1954 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of their graduation.

The 4' high rectangular and tapered stone block base has three bronze plaques. The plaque on the east side is inscribed:

HANNIBAL

WEST POINT MULE MASCOT

The plaque on the south side is inscribed:

THE ARMY MULE

SINCE 1899 THE MULE HAS BEEN THE WEST POINT MASCOT PROMOTING THE SPIRIT OF THE CORPS OF CADETS.

MULES WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE ARMY IN THE LATE 1800s THROUGH WORLD WAR I.

WHILE NOT REGULAR CALVARY MOUNTS, MULES WERE USED EXTENSIVELY TO PULL SUPPLY WAGONS, CAISSONS, AND ARTILLERY PIECES.

MULES ARE STRONGER, MORE SUREFOOTED, MORE INTELLIGENT AND EAT LESS THAN HORSES.

RIDING MULES LIKE "HANNIBAL" WERE USED BY MOUNTED GUARDS AND BY MESSENGERS.

HANNIBAL (249-183 B.C.) WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST MILITARY LEADERS OF ALL TIME.

"HANNIBAL" WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL WEST POINT MASCOT. HE SERVED THE CORPS OF CADETS FAITHFULLY FROM 1947-1964. 

The plaque on the west side is inscribed:

DONATED TO HIGHLAND FALLS

IN RECOGNITION OF

THEIR GREAT SUPPORT TO

WEST POINT

AND 

THE CORPS OF CADETS.

22 MAY 2004

{LIST OF NAMES}

ERECTED BY COMPANY M, 2nd REGIMENT, WEST POINT CLASS OF 1954,

AND THEIR MANY FRIENDS, ON THEIR 50th ANNIVERSARY OF GRADUATION.

{THREE COLUMN LIST OF NAMES}

Statue of Historic Figure: Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum - Bethel, CT

Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum

Bethel, CT

N 41° 22.272 W 073° 24.829

Short Description: 

A statue of "The Greatest Showman" P.T. Barnum is located outside the Bethel Public Library at 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, CT.

Long Description:

A 6' high bronze statue of American showman. politician, and businessman P.T. Barnum was dedicated by the Bethel Historical Society on September 26, 2010. The statue was created by local artist Dave Gesualdi and placed on along Greenwood Avenue outside the public library. The statue, dedicated on the 200th anniversary of Barnum’s birth in Bethel, Ct.

The statue depicts Barnum wearing a three piece suit with the jacket unbuttoned and a bow tie. He is standing on a circular bronze plinth set on a 3' high square stone block base with a relief showing a circus scene on the west side. His left knee bent slightly forward and his hands raised over his head. He is holding a top hat in his left hand.

A bronze plaque in front of the base is inscribed:

PHINEAS TAYLOR (P.T.) BARNUM

BORN BETHEL, CT 1810

* * *

"I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF

MERRIMENT MY NATURAL BIAS WAS DEVELOPED AND

STRENGTHENED BY THE ASSOCIATIONS OF YOUTH;

AND I FEEL MYSELF ENTITLED TO RECORD THE SAYINGS

AND DOINGS OF THE WAGS AND ECCENTRICITIES OF

BETHEL BECAUSE THEY PARTLY EXPLAIN THE CAUSES

WHICH HAVE MADE ME WHAT I AM."

*** DEDICATED BY THE BETHEL HISTORICAL SOCIETY ON THE 26TH OF SEPTEMBER 2010 ***

P.T. Barnum was born in Bethel, CT on July 5, 1810 where he founded a weekly newspaper before moving to New York City in 1834. In New York, Barnum creating a curiosity museum and the circus that now is part of the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus. His career in entertainment included a variety troupe called "Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical Theater" and purchasing Scudder's American Museum, which he renamed the Barnum American Museum. He became famous for using the museum to promote hoaxes and human curiosities such as the Feejee mermaid and General Tom Thumb. He also promoted the American tour of singer Jenny Lind, "The Swedish Nightingale". P.T. Barnum is closely associated with the aphorism "There's a sucker born every minute."

Barnum was also served in Connecticut House of Representatives from 1866–1869 and the mayor of Bridgeport, CT from 1875–1876. He died in Bridgeport on April 7, 1891 and is buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery.

Roadside Attraction: Old Bet the Elephant - Somers, NY

Old Bet the Elephant

Somers, NY

N 41° 19.677 W 073° 41.148

Short Description: 

A statue of Old Bet the Elephant is displayed high up on a granite pillar in front of the Elephant Hotel at 335 US Route 202 in Somers, NY.

Long Description:

In 1808 Hachaliah Bailey purchased an African elephant which he named Old Bet. The elephant was the first circus elephant brought to America. Old Bet was the main attraction of his Bailey Circus, which later became a component of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. On July 24 1816, while on tour near Alfred, ME, Old Bet was shot and killed by local farmer, Daniel Davis.

Between 1820 and 1825 Bailey built the Elephant Hotel Old in Somers, NY. In 1935 a statue Old Bet was erected outside the Elephant Hotel in Somers, NY. The 3' by 4.5' by 6' concrete over plywood and cedar with metal mesh statue of Old Bet the Elephant is mounted on a 15' high granite shaft and a 3' high iron scroll support. The statue was created by sculptors Joseph P. Vaghi and Thaddeus Barlow and replaces a version of Old Bet that was created in 1825 and fell into disrepair.

Realistic Object Sculpture: Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama - NY, NY

Pumpkin

New York, NY

N 40° 45.674 W 073° 59.931

Short Description: 

A sculpture of a Yayoi Kusama pumpkin is located in front of the Sky Building at 605 W 42nd St, New York, NY.

Long Description:

A 94.875" by 92.5" by 92.5" bronze sculpture of a pumpkin, decorated with a bronze covering, was created by Yayoi Kusama in 2014. According to the artist, who is famous for her sculptures of pumpkins in this style:

"It seems that pumpkins do not inspire much respect. But I was enchanted by their charming and winsome form. What appealed to me most was the pumpkin's generous unpretentiousness. That and its solid spiritual base."

Realistic Object Sculpture: Europe Candy Flag - NY, NY

Europe Candy Flag

NY, NY

N 40° 45.451 W 073° 59.432

Short Description: 

The Europe Candy Flag sculpture is located inside the north lobby of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, which is most easily accessible through the north entrance on W 42nd Street in New York City.

Long Description:

The Europe Candy Flag sculpture is a 200 cm (6.6') high depiction of a wrapped hard candy standing on end. The wrapping is blue with 12 gold stars forming the flag of the European Union. It is one of two similar sculptures by Laurence Jenkell on display in the north lobby of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The sculpture rests on a 3' high platform with a sign that is inscribed:

Laurence JENKELL

EUROPEAN CANDY FLAG

POLYESTER 200 CM

EDITION 8+4 A.P. N° 2/8

www.jenkell.com

Instagram: @jenkell_official

FOUNDATION FRANCE ART CONTEMPORARY