5 Famous Bear Statues
People who love cuddly, hairy, giant bears end up creating the best and most memorable bear statues. Over the years, even decades, there have been some incredible bear sculptures that have captured our hearts and stayed with us for a lifetime. Below is a list of some of the more famous bear statues that a bear lover should visit, if they have the chance.
Boston Teddy Bear Sculpture
At the Tufts Medical Center in Boston, a beautiful 12-foot bronze bear sculpture greets its patients and visitors. This giant bear sculpture once stood in front of the FAO Schwarz Toy Store in Boston. When the store closed in 2004, they decided to donate the whimsical bear. The Mayor of Boston at that time, Thomas Menino, decided to ask the children for their suggestions on where the statue should go. After thousands of entries, it was decided that the bear would be placed in front of the hospital. Over the years, this incredible bronze bear sculpture has welcomed children and adults alike, and will continue to do so for many more years.
Wojtek Statue in Edinburgh
In Princes Street Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland, stands a lovely bear statue of the Polish bear named Wojtek. Next to him is a soldier. Woytek was a Syrian brown bear that served in World War II with the 2nd Polish Corps. From 1942 until the end of the war, he helped carry ammunition crates. Throughout the war, he helped entertain the soldiers by wrestling with them and even learned to salute. After the war ended, Wojtek retired to Edinburgh Zoo. He was often visited by his Polish soldiers and was even a guest on BBC television’s Blue Peter. There are also other sculptures of Wojtek around different parts of Poland.
Big Blue Bear Sculpture
Outside the Colorado Convention Center, in Denver, stands a 40 foot tall blue bear statue. This large statue was created by the artist Lawrence Argent in 2005. The statue is meant to represent an American Black Bear standing on its hind legs, looking into the building center. The inspiration came from a newspaper article that had a picture of a bear peering through a window. Don’t you just want to stand next to the sculpture too and do as the bear does!
White Bear Sculpture by Pompon
In Musée d’Orsay in Paris stands a beautiful white marble polar bear sculpture created by the artist François Pompon. He loved to create simple yet striking animal sculptures, but was not recognized for them until the White Bear, at the age of 67. While the bear sculpture is simple, it still feels lifelike in its moving position. I’m sure a polar bear looking at it would think it’s one of its own.
Bear and Strawberry Tree Sculpture
If you’re ever in Madrid, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for this immense bronze sculpture. I would think that it would be hard to miss a 13-foot bronze bear statue. This incredible piece was created by the artist Antonio Navarro Santafé and presented to the city in 1967. The image has become so iconic that it is also seen on the Atletico Madrid team emblem.
While we can’t sit and write about all the bear statues around the world, hopefully the above few have inspired you. Which bear statue is your favorite? Do you know any other bear statues that should be on the list?
