Quite a while back, I saw a post on social media about all the Statue of Liberty replicas that were in Arkansas. I was completely fascinated and immediately saved the post for future reference. So, when mom and I made the trip to visit Crowley’s Ridge State Park and explore that area of the state, I jumped on the opportunity to see one of the replicas. Afterall, they were both in Paragould, so surely it would not be too out of our way.
I may or may not have been right about the replica not being too much distance to add to our itinerary, but it was definitely worth the trip! Crowley’s Ridge and the memorial are only about 25-30 minutes apart and really easy to find. Unfortunately, I forgot that there were two replicas in Paragould. So, we only stopped at this one, which made me entirely forget that other replicas exist in the state.
Traveling to the Statue of Liberty Memorial is really easy. Depending on where you are coming from, you should not have any trouble locating the site. If you know the area, then you can head straight to the Courthouse to experience the memorial. If you are like us and have never travelled to Paragould, just plug 320 W Court Street in your GPS and it will take you to the Courthouse without any problems. The Memorial is located at the corner of West Court and North Third Street, so it will be on a corner of the plot, which you will easily see from the road when you approach the location.
Located on the Greene County Courthouse grounds, the site was impeccably constructed. Seemingly in an odd place, it is understandable why Greene County residents chose the Courthouse grounds for their grand gesture to appreciate the county’s military residents. What was once a booming area of the city, the old downtown is just that – old. Paragould now thrives in other areas, where clusters of shopping and eateries have accumulated in a mix of both historic and modern architecture.
The Statue of Liberty War Memorial
Paragould is host to the county courthouse, in which the oldest replica of the Statue of Liberty in Arkansas resides. This war memorial even has the honor of being the oldest Statue of Liberty outside of the original lady in New York.
American Legion records 40 of the 476 Greene County military enlistees died while serving in World War I. The county residents wanted a way to honor and appreciate these men, as well as all those that served in the county. So, the public gathered together to decide on a memorial. A replica of the Statue of Liberty was chosen as the memorial’s centerpiece. Since a doughboy-style design had already been used in the Craighead County memorial located in Jonesboro, an entirely different design was curated by the neighboring Greene County.
In the early 1920s, Greene County residents raised $2,000 to create a respectable monument as a way to honor the county’s men who served and died in World War I. On November 11, 1924, the statue was lifted, and the memorial unveiled. Over 5,000 people were said to be in attendance for the event, which included a whole day of festivities, starting with a grand parade, community lunch hosted by the American Legion and United Daughters of the Confederacy, and more in honor of the memorial. Businesses closed for the day and the city was decorated for the event. The memorial was a proud gesture for the entire county to relish.
“This memorial is an outstanding page in the history of Greene County and an honor to those who gave their lives on foreign soil and a reminder to the gold star mothers and fathers that their sons died for a worthy cause,” serving “to keep the spirit before the children of the present and future generations and to do honor [to] those who made the supreme sacrifice.”
Speaker Harry L. Ponder, a former state senator
After World War II, two wings were added to the marble base of the memorial. One wing listed the names of casualties of the Great War and the other wing listed the seventy-eight county residents that served and died in World War II. On the backside of the wing are the names of other war casualties – 2 Korean War and 12 Vietnam.
Standing 7-foot tall, this bronze statue is one of four replicas in the state. She sits on a 6-foot marble base, making this a very impressive display and unique way to honor veterans. The memorial is known to be the only World War I sculptural memorial in Arkansas that is not the typical doughboy statue.
Located in a corner of the Greene County Courthouse lot, the little memorial park serves as a monument to World War I and World War II veterans. The creation of the park was very beautifully curated with adorned flower beds, appropriate lighting, sitting areas, and an amazingly constructed memorial to our war veterans.
Both the memorial and Greene County Courthouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Greene County Museum of Paragould Arkansas
While you are in Paragould, do not be like us and forget to stop by the Greene County Museum to see the second Statue of Liberty replica. This replica is just a statue located on the front lawn of the museum. While she is a very lovely replica, she does not hold the same value and grandeur as the War Memorial lady.
Located in the former home of Governor J. Marion Futrell, the museum opened in 2008 to the public. They are open on Friday and Saturday for a few hours, so be sure to get their information before making a trip to the museum. Filled with all kinds of history, the most interesting is their display of an 800-pound meteorite that landed in Paragould on February 17, 1930. This year is the 94th anniversary of its crash landing.
While you are in the area, don’t forget to spend some time at Crowley’s Ridge State Park and Lake Frierson State Park.
Have you visited either of the Statue of Liberty replicas in Paragould? Tell us about it!