San Jose is full of many monuments. A few of these San Jose monuments are stuffed with history, while others are rather new. Many monuments in San Jose can be viewed on your way round the town. Be sure to keep a look out for them on your trip.
Quetzalcoatl
This 8 foot tall charcoal grey, synthetic stone snake statue built by William Kreysler & Associates, based primarily on a model supplied by Robert Graham, cost $500,000 to make. The word Quetzalcoatl means Quetzal serpent and is founded upon an analogous monument at the National Museum in Mexico. The statue is located at the south end of the Plaza de Cesar E. Chavez, just off South Market Street. It certainly pays tribute to the grand memory of the Aztecs and the Spanish influence that founded San Jose.
Oionos
At 101 Paseo de San Antonio Oionos stands in front of the San Jose Repertory Theater. The large brown and white statue was designed by Doug Hollis. It points the way to the main entrance to the theater, which produces about 6 performances each year. This monument offers an interesting spectacle waiting for the show to start or during intermission.
Figure Holding the Sun
Found at 110 South Market Street in front of the San Jose Museum of Art is the built steel statue. The statue was designed by Italo Scanga. It was placed here in 1988. The statue has many colours that are like the colors of the sunrise and sunset. The statue features an individual holding a massive circle.
Brown Bear
San Jose monuments also include the Brown Bear Statue found in front of the Center for Performing Humanities. The white sculpture has a plaque on the side of it that says it's a brown bear, while it looks like a polar bear to many visitors because of its white color. The statue was designed by Benny Bufano. The statue it not as detailed which makes it more of a modern form of art and unique in appearance. Interestingly Benny Bufano created another bear sculpture which he named polar bear, and it is brown in color.
McKinley Was Here Statue
4 months before he was killed, United States President William McKinley addressed a large crowd in St. James Park. After his death, the city paid San Francisco based sculptor, Rupert Schmidt, $13,000 to create a statue that remembers this fact. The statue has been in place since February 21, 1903. You will not want to miss the statue at the park, they are a piece of artistry and importance that just add a special feel to this park, and allow a small piece of history to be saved for future generations.
Henry Naglee Statue
Henry Naglee made a fortune in San Jose by making wine. After his death in 1915, his daughters paid to have a monument built in St. James Park to recollect their father. The monument is like a tombstone with information on it about the life of Henry Naglee.
Quetzalcoatl
This 8 foot tall charcoal grey, synthetic stone snake statue built by William Kreysler & Associates, based primarily on a model supplied by Robert Graham, cost $500,000 to make. The word Quetzalcoatl means Quetzal serpent and is founded upon an analogous monument at the National Museum in Mexico. The statue is located at the south end of the Plaza de Cesar E. Chavez, just off South Market Street. It certainly pays tribute to the grand memory of the Aztecs and the Spanish influence that founded San Jose.
Oionos
At 101 Paseo de San Antonio Oionos stands in front of the San Jose Repertory Theater. The large brown and white statue was designed by Doug Hollis. It points the way to the main entrance to the theater, which produces about 6 performances each year. This monument offers an interesting spectacle waiting for the show to start or during intermission.
Figure Holding the Sun
Found at 110 South Market Street in front of the San Jose Museum of Art is the built steel statue. The statue was designed by Italo Scanga. It was placed here in 1988. The statue has many colours that are like the colors of the sunrise and sunset. The statue features an individual holding a massive circle.
Brown Bear
San Jose monuments also include the Brown Bear Statue found in front of the Center for Performing Humanities. The white sculpture has a plaque on the side of it that says it's a brown bear, while it looks like a polar bear to many visitors because of its white color. The statue was designed by Benny Bufano. The statue it not as detailed which makes it more of a modern form of art and unique in appearance. Interestingly Benny Bufano created another bear sculpture which he named polar bear, and it is brown in color.
McKinley Was Here Statue
4 months before he was killed, United States President William McKinley addressed a large crowd in St. James Park. After his death, the city paid San Francisco based sculptor, Rupert Schmidt, $13,000 to create a statue that remembers this fact. The statue has been in place since February 21, 1903. You will not want to miss the statue at the park, they are a piece of artistry and importance that just add a special feel to this park, and allow a small piece of history to be saved for future generations.
Henry Naglee Statue
Henry Naglee made a fortune in San Jose by making wine. After his death in 1915, his daughters paid to have a monument built in St. James Park to recollect their father. The monument is like a tombstone with information on it about the life of Henry Naglee.
About the Author:
Caerea Londerson has been interested in San Jose monuments for years. She has written op-eds and editorial pieces for many online publications. For more info about landmarks in San Jose feel free to visit her site.