Mother River Statue in New Orleans, Louisiana

After dinner on Tuesday, July 11, we did get off the boat to visit this magnificent and meaningful Mother River Statue, just next to where our boat was docked.

Me, touching the Mother River Statue in New Orleans, to give you an idea about its enormous size.

It was already 7:30 PM so probably not the best light...

This is the spot where the above photo is taken, the bridge is visible too.

Quite impressive to see this huge Mother River Statue, against our cruise ship America.
Our cabin is just right from that street lantern, the 2nd window with balcony on the 4th deck and below those red words America. You also can see the Pilot House on the 5th deck, in the front.
There was an exit door right outside of our cabin, from the center hallway, exiting to the outside deck in front of the boat where I've taken the previous videos shown.
One video I took also from the upper deck, all the way to the right (back of ship).

Such beautiful artwork this Mother River Statue!

Mother River Statue in NOLA = New Orleans, Louisiana
Americans LOVE abbreviations!

By sculptor Joseph Cleary

MOTHER RIVER
THIS SCULPTURE REPRESENTS THE POWER, BEAUTY AND
HISTORY OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. HER OUTSTRETCHED HANDS
SYMBOLIZE THE SOURCE OF THIS GREAT WATERWAY WHICH
STRETCHES FROM PRACTICALLY THE CANADIAN BORDER TO THE
GULF OF MEXICO. HER ROBES AND DRAPES EXPRESS THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER'S CONSTANT FLOW THROUGH THE HEARTLAND
OF THE UNITED STATES UNTIL IT CONVERGES HERE, CREATING
THE GREAT PORT OF NEW ORLEANS. THE FIGURES AT HER FEET
REPRESENT THE NUMEROUS TRIBUTARIES WHICH FEED INTO
THE MISSISSIPPI. THE RELIEF SCULPTURE ON HER BASE DEPICTS
THE ACTIVITIES ALONG THE RIVER INCLUDING THE MEN, WOMEN
AND MACHINES OF THE MARITIME INDUSTRY IN THE STATE
OF LOUISIANA.

THIS STATUE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTION WHICH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS MADE AND
WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE TO OUR NATION. MY THIS
SCULPTURE FOREVER EXPRESS THE POWER AND GRANDEUR OF
THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI; A SALUTE TO THE MARINERS AND
SHORE WORKERS MAKING OUR PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFE
AND PRODUCTIVE
MURPHY J. FOSTER, GOVERNOR
MARCH 8, 2001
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS
JAMES M. BALDWIN, JR
WALTER J. BOASSO
DONALD T. BOLLINGER
BERNARD L. CHARBONNET. JR.
DAVID GUIDRY
FRANCIS E. LAURICELLA
DAVID P. SCHULINGKAMP
J. RON BRINSON, PRESIDENT & CEO
ARTHUR Q. DAVIS - ARCHITECT
JOSEPH CLEARY - SCULPTOR

It was nearly impossible for finding any information about this great sculptor Joseph Cleary and this from askART Joseph S Cleary was the best I could find!

Also in a September 2007 Orinda Historical Society Newsletter he got mentioned.

Thank you for your visit!

Related links:
Pilot House and Upper Deck of the America | previous post by me
Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana | previous post by me
Baton Rouge and Rosedown Plantation, Louisiana | previous post by me

Houmas House the Sugar Palace in Darrow, Louisiana | previous post by me

Aboard the America Cruising on the Mississippi River | previous post by me
Our Long Awaited Mississippi River Cruise | previous post by me

The Roosevelt New Orleans with View of Mississippi and French Quarter + New Orleans Cooking School | previous post by me

7th North American Mushroom Conference at The Roosevelt in New Orleans | previous post by me