Bronze Top Hat Goes Missing from Magnificent Abraham Lincoln Sculpture in Kentucky
A bronze top hat, once bolted securely to a majestic statue of Abraham Lincoln, mysteriously vanished from its perch in Louisville's Waterfront Park, leaving an intriguing void beside the iconic former president
For over ten years, a sizable bronze top hat has been positioned beside a dignified statue of Abraham Lincoln seated on a boulder in Waterfront Park in Louisville, Kentucky. Up until recently, the hat had been firmly fastened to the former president's seat.
However, authorities are currently looking into the vanishing of the hat, which was reported as missing recently, according to a statement from the Louisville Metro Police.
The sculptor of the statues, Ed Hamilton, was informed on Saturday morning by the Waterfront Development Corporation, a non-profit overseeing the park, that the hat was missing. CNN has requested comment from the Waterfront Development Corporation.
In a social media post, Hamilton said someone had stolen the hat.
"They had to be strong and determined to pry bronze from a base, good grief!," the sculptor posted on Facebook.
The hat, which is approximately 2 feet tall and weighs up to 40 pounds, was secured to the rock in two spots, according to Hamilton who spoke to CNN.
The larger-than-life Lincoln is seated about 8 feet tall, including the rock beneath him, Hamilton explained. If he were standing, the former president would loom over park visitors at a height of 12 feet.
Hamilton was taken by surprise by the disappearance of the hats, as he described the memorial as a "quiet" and "sacred space" since it was dedicated in 2009.
"It has been a cherished place for many, where people come to sit, take pictures, and meditate," Hamilton said.
The bronze hat has been perched next to Abraham Lincoln since the statue's dedication in 2009.
Ed Hamilton is famous for his public memorials on the East Coast, such as "The Unfinished March," a sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. in Virginia, and "The Spirit of Freedom," a tribute to Black soldiers and sailors who served in the Civil War, in Washington, DC.
The sculpture of Lincoln, which stands near the Ohio River, was created to honor a trip the 16th president took to Kentucky in the 1840s. Hamilton, the artist, drew inspiration from the fact that Lincoln had witnessed riverboats carrying slaves along the Ohio River during his visit to the waterfront, which haunted him.
Hamilton explained that he aimed to create a memorial of Abraham Lincoln that was more personal and approachable, without glorifying him. The sculptor wanted to convey an image of Lincoln that appeared to be greeting visitors and inviting them to come and sit with him for a conversation.
Hamilton hopes the top hat will be returned. But if not, he plans to replace it.
"And then well put it on there even stronger," he said.
