Statue of Benjamin Franklin (San Francisco)
{{Short description|Statue of Benjamin Franklin in Washington Square, San Francisco, California, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox artwork
| title = Benjamin Franklin
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| image = Benfranklinstatue.jpg
| image_size = 250px
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| caption = The statue in 2007
| artist = Unknown
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| type = Sculpture
| material = Sculpture: Bronze
Base: Granite
| subject = Benjamin Franklin
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| metric_unit = m
| imperial_unit = ft
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| city = San Francisco, California, United States
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| coordinates = {{coord|37.80082|-122.41000|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 13
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Benjamin Franklin – also known as the Benjamin Franklin Memorial, Benjamin Franklin Statue and Cogswell Historical Monument{{Cite web|url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=14A6292N5V132.3211&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!14477~!0&ri=1&aspect=Keyword&menu=search&ipp=20&spp=20&staffonly=&term=CA000016+OR+CA000029&index=.NW&uindex=&aspect=Keyword&menu=search&ri=1|title=Benjamin Franklin, (sculpture).|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|access-date=February 23, 2016}} Note: Control Number: IAS CA000016. – is an outdoor sculpture in Washington Square, San Francisco, California.{{Cite web|url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=14A6292N5V132.3211&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!308796~!1&ri=1&aspect=Keyword&menu=search&ipp=20&spp=20&staffonly=&term=CA000016+OR+CA000029&index=.NW&uindex=&aspect=Keyword&menu=search&ri=1|title=Benjamin Franklin, (sculpture).|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|access-date=February 23, 2016}} Note: Control Number: IAS CA000029.
Description
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2016}}
The smaller-than-life-size bronze statue of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, by an unknown sculptor, stands upon an ornate granite base, that contains a time capsule. There are inscriptions on all four sides of the base. Spigots once dispensed drinking water into three stone basins. The spigots have been removed.
History
Created as a Temperance fountain by crusader Henry D. Cogswell, the monument was originally installed at Kearny and Market Streets in 1879. In 1904, it was relocated to Washington Square.{{cite book|last1=Myrick|first1=David F.|title=San Francisco's Telegraph Hill|date=1972|publisher=Howell-North Books|page=139|isbn=9780831070939|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PiwSAQAAIAAJ&q=%22present+location%22|access-date=17 January 2017}}
In 1979, 100 years after its creation, a time capsule that was hidden in the statue's base was removed and opened, and contained Cogswell's personal papers. A new time capsule, to be opened in 2079, was installed.[http://usingsfhistory.com/2009/07/18/time-capsules-in-san-francisco/ Time capsules in San Francisco], from Using San Francisco History.
In popular culture
The statue is visible behind Richard Brautigan and Michaela Le Grand on the original cover of Brautigan's 1967 novel Trout Fishing in America.
See also
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area|Visual arts}}
References
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External links
{{commons category|Benjamin Franklin Memorial (San Francisco)}}
- [http://www.dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0000120.htm Franklin, Benjamin statue in Washington Square in San Francisco, California] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903111419/http://www.dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0000120.htm |date=2014-09-03 }} at DC Memorials
{{Benjamin Franklin}}
{{Public art in San Francisco}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin Franklin (San Francisco)}}
Category:1879 establishments in California
Category:Bronze sculptures in California
Category:Granite sculptures in California
Category:North Beach, San Francisco
Category:Outdoor sculptures in San Francisco
Category:Relocated buildings and structures in California
Category:Sculptures of men in California