Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
1. Statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse Marker
Inscription.
Statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse. . Exterior statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse includes, most prominently, six seated figures carved from single blocks of Tennessee marble, representing Wisdom, Justice, Liberty, Authority, Peace, and Prosperity. Near the top of the north facade are six standing figures: Prudence, Courage, Integrity, Learning, Mercy, and Temperance. Pediments above the Second, Adams Avenue, and Third Street entrances are decorated with carved scenes depicting religious laws, Roman law, statutory law, common law, civil law and criminal law. At the apex of each of these pediments is the head of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom. Since 1921 the south corridor has featured a bust of President Andrew Jackson, one of the founders of Memphis. Sculpted by John Frazee from life in 1835, the bust was purchased by the City in 1858 and originally placed in the Court Square two blocks southwest of this site. The bust features at its base the words of Jackson's famous toast "Our Federal Union, It must and shall be preserved." This inscription was defaced during the Civil War but, like the Union itself, was soon restored.
Exterior statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse includes, most prominently, six seated figures carved from single blocks of Tennessee marble, representing Wisdom, Justice, Liberty, Authority, Peace, and Prosperity. Near the top of the north facade are six standing figures: Prudence, Courage, Integrity, Learning, Mercy, and Temperance. Pediments above the Second, Adams Avenue, and Third Street entrances are decorated with carved scenes depicting religious laws, Roman law, statutory law, common law, civil law and criminal law. At the apex of each of these pediments is the head of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom. Since 1921 the south corridor has featured a bust of President Andrew Jackson, one of the founders of Memphis. Sculpted by John Frazee from life in 1835, the bust was purchased by the City in 1858 and originally placed in the Court Square two blocks southwest of this site. The bust features at its base the words of Jackson's famous toast "Our Federal Union, It must and shall be preserved." This inscription was defaced during the Civil War but, like the Union itself, was soon restored.
Location. 35° 8.864′ N, 90° 2.969′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. Marker is at the intersection of Adams Avenue and Third Street, on the right when traveling west on Adams Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 212 Adams Avenue, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse Marker
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
3. Statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse Marker
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
4. Authority & Liberty
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
5. Peace & Prosperity
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
6. Justice
Photographed By Christopher Light, September 14, 2010
7. Authority
Photographed By Christopher Light, September 14, 2010
8. Wisdom
Photographed By Christopher Light, September 14, 2010
9. Justice
Photographed By Christopher Light, September 14, 2010
10. Liberty
Photographed By Christopher Light, September 14, 2010
11. Peace
Photographed By Christopher Light, September 14, 2010
12. Prosperity
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,492 times since then and 74 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on November 2, 2010, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.