Just a Quick Stroll
Charlotte, North Carolina
With a few moments on my hands, I parked the car, to take a few pictures in ‘uptown’ Charlotte of four bronze sculptures, by Raymond Kaskey, which define Independence Square.
Commerce
Industry
Transportation
Future
“Commerce: The man depicted here is a 19th century gold prospector. This represents the gold rush in Charlotte – the very first gold rush in America. If you’ll look just below his pan, you’ll see the face of former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, representing Charlotte’s banking industry.
Industry: Representing industry, you’ll see a figure that shaped much of Charlotte and the surrounding area – a millworker. The woman shown here would have been similar to the textile workers found all over this regions. There’s also a figure at her knees. This one represents the many children that worked alongside their parents in the mills in the days before child labor laws. The figure actually shows a likeness of the sculptor, Raymond Kaskey, as a child.
Transportation: Here, an African American man represents the builders of the very first railroads in Charlotte. These were built in the mid 1800s, and lead to the Charlotte’s status as a transportation hub. You’ll see the number 1401, which honors steam locomotive number 1401 (nicknamed “Charlotte”) which once pulled trains through the city. There’s also an eagle depicted, representing air transportation in Charlotte.
The Future: Charlotte’s future is represented by a depiction of a mother with her child. The mother is standing in branches, leaves and flowers of the dogwood (the state flower of North Carolina). In between the branches, you’ll see a hornets nest – a true symbol of Charlotte.”
However, I am so very pleased that I decided to continue my stroll down Tyron Street, arriving at The Green.
A perfectly whimsical outdoor space
Do you not want to sit and play a game of chess?
They are children climbing into a book!
“Life is an Open Book”
E Pluribus Unum –Out of Many One
I instantly fell madly and desperately in love with this sign, from the flower shop which was built in 1929. I wanted either to rush in and buy endless bouquets of fresh flowers or rush in and take over the business – I think I would love to sell flowers for a living!
Yes, Mark Twain!
How lovely when a stroll makes one wish there were time to explore a place, as opposed to wanting to find the quickest exit out of town!
