From napkin drawings, to fully realized project, the Spirit of the Rivers monument is getting closer and closer to being a reality. The massive sculpture aims to celebrate the Native American culture and history surrounding the lakeshore community, and the earliest inhabitants of this area. It will be located on Memorial Drive, across from Aurora Medical Center. Joe Metzen, who serves on the Board of Directors for the project, gave us a little history about how it came to be.
The immense bronze statue, created by 1960 Manitowoc Lincoln graduate, Skip Wallen, will depict three figures, including a man portaging a birch bark canoe, a woman carrying their belongings, and an elder leading the way. The colossal structure will be very hard to miss for those traveling along Lake Michigan.
The board teamed up with Ethnic Fest, and will be holding a dedication ceremony on Sunday, September 16th.
For more information on the Spirit of the Rivers monument, visit www.spiritoftherivers.org.
