Francis Scott Key, (sculpture).

Francis Scott Key, (sculpture).

Story, William Wetmore, 1819-1895, sculptor.

Francis Scott Key, (sculpture).

Commissioned 1885. 1886. Dedicated July 4, 1888. Rededicated July 4, 1977.

Digital Reference:

Key and Columbia: bronze; Buffalo heads and Eagles: bronze; Base: travertine and marble.

Overall: approx. H. 52 ft.; Key: approx. H. 8 ft.; Columbia: approx. H. 13 ft.

(Marble plaque on front of base, incised lettering:) TO/FRANCIS SCOTT KEY/AUTHOR OF THE NATIONAL SONG/THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER/THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED/BY/JAMES LICK/OF SAN FRANCISCO/A.D. MDCCCLXXXVII. (Above base arches, incised lettering:) (Front:) THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER (one side:) O LONG MAY IT WAVE (rear:) O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE (other side:) AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE (Marble plaque on one side of base, incised lettering: verses 1 and 2 of the Star Spangled Banner) (Marble plaque on other side of base, incised lettering: verses 3 and 4 of the Star Spangled Banner)

An elaborate monument to composer Francis Scott Key (1780-1843), with Key seated under an arched canopy upheld by four Corinthian columns and topped with a standing female figure of Columbia. Key has his proper right hand to his chest, his proper left arm resting on the chair's arm. Columbia wears a long dress and holds a flagstaff by her proper right side, eagles at her feet. Buffalo heads are around the top of the columns. The base includes a relief panel of a lyre encircled by foliage.

Portrait male -- Key, Francis Scott

Performing Arts -- Music -- Composer

Occupation -- Law -- Lawyer

Occupation -- Writer -- Poet

Literature -- Key -- Star Spangled Banner

Figure female -- Full length

Allegory -- Place -- America

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Animal -- Buffalo

Object -- Musical Instrument -- Lyre

Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- San Francisco

Administered by City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Arts Commission, 25 Van Ness, Suite 240, San Francisco, California 94102

Located Golden Gate Park, Music concourse, eastern end of park, near entrance of Academy of Sciences building, San Francisco, California

The $60,000 monument, commemorating Francis Scott Key, was a bequest of James Lick (San Francisco). The contract for the monument was awarded on Feb. 7, 1885. The monument was cast in Rome. The monument has been moved twice within Golden Gate Park. Originally, it was erected in what was the children's playground, south of Conservatory Valley, behind the Auditorium where the tennis courts now are. From 1909 to 1966, it was in front of Steinhart Auditorium. It was placed at its current site during the exhibition "American Renaissance" at the M. H. de Young Museum, as part of the Bicentennial celebrations, and rededicated on July 4, 1976.

IAS files contain transcription of text on base; copies of the dedication and rededication programs; transcript of a newspaper article from the San Francisco Examiner, Jan. 26, 1888, pg. 1; and excerpt from "San Francisco Civic Art Collection: A Guided Tour to Publicly Owned Art of the City and County of San Francisco," San Francisco, CA: Arts Commission of San Francisco, 1989, pg. 62.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, CA2053, 1989.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, California, San Francisco survey, 1993.

Monumental News, March 1894, pg. 132.

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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