Who Owns The Spirit Of Detroit?
The Spirit of Detroit is a famous bronze statue that has become a beloved symbol of the city of Detroit, Michigan. The massive sculpture depicts a seated figure holding a gilt bronze sphere representing God or the spirit of humanity. Since its dedication in 1958 outside the original City Hall building, the Spirit of Detroit has been a source of civic pride and an iconic landmark in the Motor City.
The statue was conceived and created by renowned Swedish sculptor Marshall Fredericks in the mid-1950s when the city commissioned him to design a monument for the new City Hall. After years of work and nearly $60,000 in costs, Fredericks’ masterpiece was unveiled to the public in September 1958. The 26-foot tall, 12-ton Spirit of Detroit soon came to embody the soul of the city and a sense of hope during Detroit’s postwar boom years.
Over the decades, the Spirit of Detroit has undergone restoration efforts to preserve its luster and maintain its powerful presence. While legally owned by the city, the iconic sculpture has taken on deeper meaning as a symbol claimed by all Detroiters. The Spirit endures as a profound artistic achievement and a touchstone embodying the heart of a great city.
Description
The Spirit of Detroit is a large bronze monument located at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was commissioned in 1955 for a cost of $58,000, and dedicated in 1958. The statue depicts a large seated figure as the manifestation of the “Spirit of Detroit.”
In the statue’s left hand is a gilt bronze sphere that represents God. Its right hand symbolizes Detroit’s industry, while the figure itself embodies the city’s people. The 26-foot tall sculpture sits on a marble base. The front of the base has an inscription that reads: “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” The city’s seal is also displayed.
The statue has become an iconic symbol of Detroit. It represents the city’s rebirth and its people’s spirit of resilience (Source: The Spirit of Detroit).
Creation
The Spirit of Detroit was commissioned in 1955 by the Detroit City Council. They hired sculptor Marshall Fredericks to design the monument, which was officially completed in 1958. Fredericks was an American sculptor known for his public artworks and memorials. He was born in Florida but moved to Michigan as a teenager and studied at the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts (now known as the College for Creative Studies). Fredericks had already created several sculptures around Detroit before being commissioned for the Spirit of Detroit, such as the Boy and Bear fountain in 1948.
According to the Detroit Historical Society, the 26-foot-tall Spirit of Detroit sculpture weighs over 10,000 pounds and took 10 months to create. It was originally created in clay before being recast in bronze for permanence. Fredericks aimed to represent the spirit of Detroit through the large seated figure, which features a family consisting of a man, woman, and child held in the figure’s arms to symbolize human relationships. The figure also holds a golden sphere representing God.
Installation
The Spirit of Detroit statue was installed in 1958 in front of the Municipal Building along Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit [1]. The statue was commissioned by the Detroit Common Council and designed by Marshall Fredericks as a way to represent the spirit of progress and resilience of Detroiters [2]. The installation process took 5 months and required setting the 26-foot bronze statue into a sub-base with a 15-foot granite pedestal [1]. The statue has remained in its original location since its unveiling in 1958, despite the demolition of the original Municipal Building.
Ownership
The Spirit of Detroit statue is legally owned by the city of Detroit. After its completion and unveiling in 1958, ownership transferred to the city as a gift from local business owners and civic organizations who had commissioned the statue. The 26-foot bronze statue sits on a marble base on public city property at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center along Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit.
Though commissioned and initially funded privately, Marshall Fredericks’ iconic sculpture was always intended to be a gift to the people of Detroit. According to the Detroit Historical Society, Fredericks himself referred to the statue as belonging to “the citizens of Detroit.” So while the statue sits on city property and is maintained by the city, it exists in spirit as a monument to the soul of Detroit and its people.
Some legal questions arose when photos of the statue were used in licensing deals and commercial products without permission or payments to the city. This highlighted the complexities around legal ownership and copyright protections for public art and monuments. The city now manages licensing and reproductions of the statue’s image, treating it as a proprietary asset, though its symbolic meaning remains open to interpretation.
Significance
The Spirit of Detroit statue has become a beloved cultural symbol representing the heart and soul of the city. Since its installation in 1958, it has been featured on municipal logos, posters, postcards, and tourist memorabilia as the preeminent civic sculpture of Detroit. The statue’s image has been reproduced countless times to represent the city at home and abroad.
The Spirit of Detroit has been the site of vigils, rallies, and protests through times of turmoil and triumph in Detroit’s history. It serves as a gathering point for residents to voice concerns, celebrate community events, or mourn losses. In this way, the statue reflects the enduring spirit of the people of Detroit.
Onlookers may interpret different meanings from the statue, but it largely represents Detroit as a family-oriented city that triumphs through adversity. The figures symbolize the close ties between people and their hope for the future (The Spirit of Detroit – Wikipedia). In essence, the Spirit of Detroit has become the heart and soul of the city.
Restorations
The Spirit of Detroit statue has undergone a few major restorations and repairs since it was installed in 1958. According to the Model D Media article, one significant restoration was done in 2006 for the statue’s 50th anniversary. This $225,000 restoration involved stripping away old paint, cleaning and sealing the bronze, and applying a new coating of gold automotive paint. The restoration team also improved some details like the figures’ eyelids and lips.
Another notable restoration began in the spring of 2008, as reported by Wikipedia. This $250,000 project focused on dealing with corrosion issues, sealing joints, and applying 23.5-karat gold leaf gilding. The YouTube video “Restoration artist cleans up Spirit of Detroit statue” shows some clips of an artist working on the gold leafing during this restoration.
These major restorations have helped preserve the Spirit of Detroit in good condition so it can continue standing proudly as an iconic Detroit landmark. The regular repairs and touch-ups demonstrate the ongoing care and commitment to maintaining this beloved statue.
Copyright
The Spirit of Detroit statue was created by Marshall Fredericks in 1958. As a work of visual art, it is protected by copyright law in the United States. However, according to the U.S. Copyright Office records, the copyright was not renewed after the initial 28 year term, so the sculpture is now in the public domain.
This means that the sculpture can be freely reproduced, copied and displayed without permission from the artist’s estate. Images and replicas of the statue are not subject to copyright restrictions. The City of Detroit owns the original statue but does not own or control the copyright.
Some authorized reproductions of the statue include a miniature bronze version sold as souvenirs and a larger bronze cast version installed at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.
Legacy
The Spirit of Detroit statue has become an iconic symbol of the city and a source of civic pride for Detroit residents. Unveiled in 1958, the sculpture has endured for over 60 years as a representation of Detroit’s enduring hard work, resilience, and hope for the future.
Artist Marshall Fredericks intended for the statue to embody the “spirit” of the people of Detroit. Over the decades, the sculpture has come to represent key aspects of the city’s legacy, including its manufacturing and labor history as well as its diversity and solidarity. As Fredericks put it, the man’s posture depicts looking “into the future with courage and hope.”
The Spirit of Detroit has inspired numerous references in popular culture depicting Detroit, from sports team logos to songs and films. It remains one of the most famous and recognizable public artworks in the city. When Detroit declared bankruptcy in 2013, the statue took on renewed significance as a symbol of unity and optimism during a difficult period.
While legally owned by the city, the Spirit of Detroit has become part of the cultural heritage belonging to all Detroiters. Its uplifted arm continues to represent the soul of a hardworking people ready to move forward and build a better future.
Sources:
The Spirit of Detroit Sculpture Celebrates 60 Years
Conclusion
The Spirit of Detroit sculpture has become an iconic symbol of the city since its installation in 1958. Created by artist Marshall Fredericks, it was commissioned by the Detroit City Council and originally owned by the city. The large bronze statue depicting a seated figure holding a family close to its heart represents the spirit of humanity and relationships that embody the city of Detroit.
Over the years, the sculpture has undergone restorations to preserve it and remains under the ownership of the city government. While no single person or entity can outright own the spirit behind what the statue represents, the City of Detroit retains legal ownership over the physical sculpture itself. The Spirit of Detroit evokes a sense of strength, endurance, and community that resonates with locals and visitors alike.
As one of the city’s most beloved and recognizable landmarks, the Spirit of Detroit serves as a symbolic monument representing the soul of a hard-working city and its people.
