A statue of Harriet Tubman created by artist

Jane DeDecker Jane DeDecker (born 30 August 1961) is a sculptor from Iowa. She specializes in bronze work and her pieces often feature family groups or children. DeDecker was born in Marengo, Iowa on 30 August 1961 and attended the University of Northern Color ...

honors the life of abolitionist

Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist and social activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 slaves, including family and friends, us ...

. The

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...

statue depicts Tubman walking and holding the hand of a young boy. There are several installations of identical copies of the statue, in

Ypsilanti, Michigan Ypsilanti (), commonly shortened to Ypsi, is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 20,648. The city is bounded to the north by Superior Township and on the west, south, and ...

, in

Little Rock, Arkansas (The Little Rock, The "Little Rock") , government_type = council-manager government, Council-manager , leader_title = List of mayors of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_ ...

, in

Gainesville, Georgia The city of Gainesville is the county seat of Hall County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 42,296. Because of its large number of poultry processing plants, it is often called the "Poultry Capital of t ...

, and in

Mesa, Arizona Mesa ( ) is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the most populous city in the East Valley (Phoenix metropolitan area), East Valley section of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is bordered by ...

Installations

The statue was made in an edition of seven. Critics have noted that the statue's expression suggests Tubman's "gentle caring manner and generosity." The statue in

, was unveiled on 21 May, 2006, as part of a redevelopment of a plaza adjacent to the

Ypsilanti District Library The Ypsilanti District Library is a library in Washtenaw County, Michigan, serving Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, and Superior Township. The library has been in operation since 1868, and today provides services with three branches and a bookm ...

. Two years later, the library board added a plaque to the statue describing Tubman's life and achievements as a response to local queries about the statue; the original plaque was located at the base of the rear of the statue in an area difficult to read easily. The plaque and statue commemorate Ypsilanti's connection to the

Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. T ...

. The one in

, was originally placed in Little Rock's Riverfront Park; however, during the construction of the Game and Fish Nature Center in the park it was relocated to the entrance of

Clinton Presidential Center The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is the Presidential library system, presidential library of Bill Clinton, the List of presidents of the United States, 42nd president of the United States (1993–2001). It is located in L ...

as part of a series of six pieces of art lining a walkway from the downtown area of Little Rock to the Presidential Center. The one in

, is located at the entrance to Thurmond–McRae Lecture Hall on the campus of

Brenau University Brenau University is a private university with its historic campus in Gainesville, Georgia. Founded in 1878, the university enrolls more than 2,800 students from approximately 48 states and 17 foreign countries who seek degrees ranging from asso ...

. Its installation was the first instance of an educational institution in the southern United States honoring Tubman in such a visible way. A further identical statue is located on the campus of

References

{{Harriet Tubman 2006 establishments in Michigan Brenau University Memorials to Harriet Tubman Monuments and memorials in Georgia (U.S. state) Monuments and memorials in Michigan Tubman Sculptures of women in Arkansas Sculptures of women in Georgia (U.S. state) Sculptures of women in Michigan Statues in Arkansas Statues in Georgia (U.S. state) Statues in Michigan Sculptures of children in the United States