West Seventh - Fort Road in Saint Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The New York Life Eagle
In 1890, architect Stanford White gave the commission for The New York Life Eagle to Augustus Saint-Gaudens on behalf of The New York Life Insurance Company. Augustus sketched its conceptual form and the sculpture was carved in marble by his brother Louis St. Gaudens to be cast in an edition of three for New York Life's frontier expansion buildings in Kansas City, Omaha, and Saint Paul.
In the heart of downtown Saint Paul, the beautiful building's three-story main entrance was capped by this powerful allegory of protection. The majestic bird is poised on a ledge of rock, wings spread to shelter its nest of eaglets, its talons grasping a threatening serpent.
In 1967, preservationists led by William and Watson Davidson and Georgia Ray DeCoster saved the sculpture when the building was demolished and installed it outside the Pioneer Building parking ramp.
Public Art Saint Paul secured title to the sculpture in 1999 and undertook its restoration. In June, 2004, the sculpture was raised to this prospect overlooking the Mississippi River valley where bald eagles abound along the bluffs and palisades.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is June 2004.
Location. 44° 56.503′ N, 93° 7.019′ W. Marker is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in Ramsey County. It is in West Seventh - Fort Road. Memorial is on Summit Avenue east of Ramsey Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in Summit Lookout Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 440 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul MN 55102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Summit Lookout Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Cochran Park (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); F. Scott Fitzgerald Birthplace (approx. 0.3 miles away); McQuillan Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); F. Scott Fitzgerald House (approx. 0.4 miles away); C.S.P.S. Hall (approx. half a mile away); James J. Hill / The James J. Hill House (approx. half a mile away); St. Joseph's Academy (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saint Paul.
Also see . . .
1. New York Life Eagle. Historic Twin Cities website entry (Submitted on December 30, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. The Sculptures of Upper Summit Avenu. Public Art Saint Paul website entry (Submitted on April 24, 2011.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,123 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 24, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.