Statue of Henry W. Grady
The Henry W. Grady statue is a monumental statue of Henry W. Grady in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Built by Alexander Doyle in 1891, the statue lies at the intersection of Marietta Street and Forsyth Street in downtown Atlanta and was unveiled shortly after Grady's death in 1889. The statue has recently been the subject of controversy, as several groups have called for its removal due to Grady's support of white supremacy.
History
Henry W. Grady was a celebrated orator and newspaper editor during the late 1800s. As editor of the Atlanta Constitution, Grady coined the term "New South" to describe his idea for the Southern United States to develop a more mixed and industrialized economy in the post-Civil War world. He died in 1889 at the age of 39.On December 24, 1889 a group of prominent Atlanta men met to discuss the creation of a monument honoring Grady. Within a month, the committee had raised over $20,000 via donations from across the country. Notable donators included Isadore Strauss, Andrew Carnegie, Tammany Hall, and the Singer Sewing Machine Company. On March 1, 1890, an advertisement was put out calling for monument proposals, with American sculptor Alexander Doyle being selected. Doyle completed the casting in 1890, with the bronze statue cast at the Ames Manufacturing Company foundry in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The pedestal was made from granite quarried from nearby Constitution, Georgia.
The location for the monument was selected as the intersection of Marietta Street and Forsyth Street, a location sometimes referred to as "Grady Square". The statue was located adjacent to the U.S. Post Office and Customs House, which for a time would serve as Atlanta City Hall. Ground was broken on September 7, 1891. On October 21, 1891, the statue was officially unveiled to the public, attracting a crowd of approximately 25,000 spectators. The statue was unveiled by Grady's daughter, with New York Governor David B. Hill serving as the speaker of the event.