Anyone familiar with New York knows EXACTLY where you can find this pair of ever vigilant stone lions.
And anyone who knows their New York trivia knows their names...
Patience and Fortitude! And their story is kinda awesome...
And anyone who knows their New York trivia knows their names...
Patience and Fortitude! And their story is kinda awesome...
The famous duo has been in place since the New York Public Library
building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan first opened on
May 23, 1911.
Once labeled as “New York’s most lovable public sculpture” by architecture critic Paul Goldberger, the Lions have been bedecked in top hats, graduation caps, Mets and Yankee caps, and more.The Lions were modeled and sculpted for a cost of $13,000 using pink Tennessee marble. And, if they've looked a little more dashing lately, it's because the lions were professionally cleaned and restored in 2019.
Our MOST fun fact is that their name have actually changed over the decades. First they were called Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, after The New York Public Library founders John Jacob Astor and James Lenox! Later, they were known as Lady Astor and Lord Lenox which are simply amazing names.
However, it was during the 1930s, Mayor LaGuardia named them Patience and Fortitude, for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression. 90 years later, "Patience" still guards the south side of the Library's steps and "Fortitude" sits unwavering to the north!
Once labeled as “New York’s most lovable public sculpture” by architecture critic Paul Goldberger, the Lions have been bedecked in top hats, graduation caps, Mets and Yankee caps, and more.The Lions were modeled and sculpted for a cost of $13,000 using pink Tennessee marble. And, if they've looked a little more dashing lately, it's because the lions were professionally cleaned and restored in 2019.
Our MOST fun fact is that their name have actually changed over the decades. First they were called Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, after The New York Public Library founders John Jacob Astor and James Lenox! Later, they were known as Lady Astor and Lord Lenox which are simply amazing names.
However, it was during the 1930s, Mayor LaGuardia named them Patience and Fortitude, for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression. 90 years later, "Patience" still guards the south side of the Library's steps and "Fortitude" sits unwavering to the north!
No comments:
Post a Comment