If you find yourself traveling through Springfield, Massachusetts.
Do yourself a favor and plan a stop by the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden at the Springfield Museum. Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was born in this city in 1904 and grew up in the city’s Forest Park neighborhood. His hometown was always important to him and many aspects of it inspired his work. As such, it only seems fitting that this beautiful memorial to one of the most beloved children’s writers should have been created here.
Bronze sculptures of his most famous characters were designed by sculptor Lark Grey Diamond-Cates. What makes the sculptures even more endearing is the fact that Diamond-Cates is Geisel’s step-daughter. The sculptures, which are clustered together in various areas of the park, include, but are not limited to: Geisel at his drawing board with the Cat in the Hat at his side, a 14-foot Horton the elephant with Thing One, Thing Two, Sam-I-Am and Sally and her brother; A storytelling chair accompanied by a 10-foot-tall book, and A ten turtle high–turtle-tower from Yertle the Turtle. Visitors are encouraged to explore and interact with the statues within the sculpture garden.
The sculptures are designed to tell the story of the author and to inspire other writers and storytellers to follow their dreams. The idea for the project came in the mid-1980s when Geisel returned to visit 600 school children who took part in a five-month-long “Suessamania,” celebration of his work. When he was home the Springfield Library & Museums Association first brought up the idea of creating a local memorial for the writer. After he passed in 1991 his family gave the city permission to purse the development of the park. There is no admission fee to go to visit the park. More information about the history of the park, the sculpture, and Dr. Seuss, can be found at catinthehat.org or springfieldmuseums.org.
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