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. 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.

Erected by The Seal of Shelby County Tennessee.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music

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• War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #07 Andrew Jackson series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1921.

Location. 35° 8.864′ N, 90° 2.969′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Forrest and the Memphis Slave Trade (within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Shelby County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Peter Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Forrest's Early Home (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Malcolm Rice Patterson (about 300 feet away); 1862 Post Office (about 300 feet away); Former Criminal Courts Building (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

2. Statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse Marker

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

3. Statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse Marker

Authority & Liberty image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

4. Authority & Liberty

Peace & Prosperity image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

5. Peace & Prosperity