Father Louis Hennepin, (sculpture).

Father Louis Hennepin, (sculpture).

Slifer, Fred A., designer.

Volk, Douglas, 1856-1935, painter. (copy after)

Slifer & Abrahamson, design firm.

Wurtemberg Galvanoplastic Company, fabricator.

C. H. Young Company, contractor.

McGough Brothers, contractor.

Father Louis Hennepin, (sculpture).

Father Hennepin Discovering the Falls of St. Anthony, (sculpture).

Dedicated 1930. Rededicated Oct. 12, 1980.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: copper; Base: pink granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 1 ft. x Diam. 3 ft.; Base: approx. 11 x 5 x 5 ft.

(On self base:) THVMA (Incised around top of base:) HENNEPIN/1680-1930/HENNEPIN/1690-1930 (On plaque on base, below relief:) FATHER LOUIS HENNEPIN/1640-1705/REDEDICATED BY THE/KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS OF MINN/OCTOBER 12, 1980 (Incised on rear of base:) DEDICATED TO/FATHER LOUIS HENNEPIN/MISSIONARY/EXPLORER - HISTORIAN/ON THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY/OF HIS DISCOVERY OF THE/FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY/BESIDE WHOSE FECUND WATERS/CLUSTERED/THE PIONEERS OF THE/CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS (On right of base:) ERECTED BY/THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS/SITE DONATED BY/THE BASILICA OF ST. MARY (On left of base:) LET US PRAISE/MEN OF RENOWN/ECCLUS 44-1 Founder's mark appears.

Standing figure of Father Louis Hennepin in a the cleric robe of a Franciscan. He holds a cross in his upraised proper right hand and his proper left hand is on his chest. A relief plaque on the base depicts Father Hennepin's discovery of the Falls of St. Anthony. He blesses the Falls as six Sioux Indians look on. This image is a copy of the painting "Father Hennepin Discovering the Falls of St. Anthony" by Douglas Volk, which is located at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Portrait male -- Hennepin, Louis -- Full length

Ethnic -- Indian -- Sioux

History -- United States -- Westward Expansion

History -- United States -- Minnesota

Occupation -- Religion -- Clergy

Ethnic -- Belgian

Outdoor Sculpture -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis

Administered by Basilica of St. Mary, Maintenance Department, 88 North 17th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Located West of Hennepin Avenue & North 16th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Erected by the Knights of Columbus of Minnesota to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the discovery of the Falls of St. Anthony by Father Louis Hennepin (1640-1705), a Belgian priest and explorer. The land was donated by the Basilica of St. Mary. Fred Slifer, of the design firm of Slifer & Abrahamson designed the statue which was built by Wurtemberg Galvanplastic Company of Germany. The foundation was laid by McGough Brothers, and the base was built by the C. H. Young Company. The monument was rededicated by the Knights in 1980. It was moved a short distance, possibly at the time of the rededication. IAS files include a related article from the Minnesota Journal of Education, Dec. 1954 and a news release dated Apr. 13, 1930 from the Special Collections File of the Minneapolis Public Library.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Minnesota, Minneapolis - St. Paul survey, 1993.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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