Sioux City in Woodbury County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Spirit of Siouxland

United Flight 232

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. The Spirit of Siouxland Marker

Inscription.
On July 19, 1989, Flight 232, en route from Denver to Chicago, became disabled and attempted an emergency landing at the Sioux Gateway airport. The crash resulted in the loss of 112 lives; 184 persons survived.

Rarely will an event define its people as did the community's response to this challenge. Thousands of citizens were involved in saving lives, caring for survivors, and comforting relatives and friends.

The image of a man carrying a child became a symbol of our strength, compassion and unselfish commitment. Fittingly, the sculpture is entitled "The Spirit of Siouxland."

This sculpture commemorates Siouxland's extraordinary response to the crash of United Flight 232 on July 19, 1989.

It depicts the rescue of three-year-old Spencer Bailey by Lt. Col. Dennis Nielsen of the Iowa Air National Guard's 185th Tactical Fighter Group, one of the many who answered the call that day.

The work was created by Artist Dale Lamphere and was inspired by a photograph shot by Sioux City Journal photographer Gary Anderson.

Erected 1994 by The Greater Sioux City Press Club.

Topics.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is July 19, 1989.

Location. 42° 29.343′ N, 96° 24.602′ W. Marker is in Sioux City, Iowa, in Woodbury County. It is on Larsen Park Road east of Hamilton Boulevard, on the right when traveling east. Located on the riverfront at the Flight 232 Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sioux City IA 51103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Western Iowa and in Loess Hills.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pacific Short Line Bridge (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pacific Short Line Bridge (Nebraska Side) (approx. ¼ mile away in Nebraska); The Lewis & Clark Expedition

Photographed by Craig Baker

2. The Spirit of Siouxland Marker

(approx. 0.4 miles away); M.V. Sergeant Floyd (approx. 0.4 miles away); Prospect Hill (approx. half a mile away); MA1 (EXW) John Douangdara (approx. 1½ miles away in Nebraska); Grand Army of the Republic (approx. 1.9 miles away); Floyd Monument (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sioux City.

Regarding The Spirit of Siouxland. United Airlines Flight 232 was a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 with 296 people on board that crash-landed at Sioux Gateway Airport after suffering a catastrophic failure of its tail-mounted engine which resulted in the loss of all flight controls.

Also see . . .
1. Spirit of Siouxland sculpture. Sioux City Journal website. (Submitted on August 28, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. United Airlines Flight 232. Wikipedia:
“Landing was originally planned on the 9,000-foot (2,700 m) Runway 31. Difficulties in controlling the aircraft made lining up almost impossible. While dumping some of the excess fuel, the plane executed a series of mostly right-hand turns (it was easier to turn the plane in this direction) with the intention of lining up with

Photographed by Craig Baker

3. The Spirit of Siouxland Marker

Runway 31. When they came out they were instead lined up with the shorter (6,888 ft) and closed Runway 22, and had little capacity to maneuver. Fire trucks had been placed on Runway 22, anticipating a landing on nearby Runway 31, so all the vehicles were quickly moved out of the way before the plane touched down.” (Submitted on July 14, 2018.)

Photographed by Craig Baker

4. The Spirit of Siouxland Marker

The Spirit of Siouxland image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

5. The Spirit of Siouxland

The Photograph image. Click for full size.

Via Waterloo/Cedar Falls Journal, 1989

6. The Photograph

United Airlines Flight 232 image. Click for full size.

Source: NTSB via Wikipedia Commons

7. United Airlines Flight 232

Photo of United Airlines Flight 232 from the NTSB report, with damage highlighted.

Flight 232 Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

8. Flight 232 Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 2,006 times since then and 68 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week July 15, 2018. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 14, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on August 28, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 7. submitted on July 14, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 8. submitted on August 14, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.