Mark Twain’s bronze statue in Trinity Park mysteriously vanished. We went searching.
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Q: “Wondering what happened to the Mark Twain statue on the park bench in Trinity Park? It (and the bench) went missing a couple of weeks ago.” -S.M.
For 15 years, Trinity Park in Fort Worth has been home to a life-size bronze statue of writer Mark Twain, seated on a bronze bench and holding a copy of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” with his legs crossed. He looks off to his side, as if to be taking in the view of Trinity River or perhaps chatting with anyone who takes a seat on the bench next to him.
The monument to the great American storyteller has become a favorite attraction among tourists and residents alike who sit and pose for photos. Back in summer 2007, when the Red Oak Foundation charitable trust installed the statue to encourage kids to read, more than 90 people attended a dedication ceremony.
As the Star-Telegram reported at the time: “This bench is given to the families of Fort Worth for the joys of reading together,” declared Becky Brumley, the foundation director, she bent to give ol’ Mark a kiss on the head. “I hope you’ll come and sit with this permanent friend to read together.”
Well, perhaps ol’ Mark wasn’t so permanent after all?
He seems to be missing.
Now, the four metal legs of the bench, along with the statue, are sheared off. All that remains is a concrete pad on which it sat, near the bicycle path and east of the playground.
The Star-Telegram started making some calls to figure out what happened.
As it turns out, it’ll be a while until Fort Worth residents can visit with Twain again — but he is indeed coming back.
The bench is broken, according to the city. Workers removed the bench in the beginning of February for safety reasons until it can get repaired.
But the repairs are more complicated than what the Parks and Recreation staff is able to do, so they are researching and evaluating available options.
Here’s what repairs are needed: specialty welding made for the specific material, sandblasting to smooth it down, and restoration of the patina (the bronze’s protective covering) to keep the continuity of the artwork.
Parks and Recreation is reaching out to see who can make the needed repairs and what the cost will be. It will then identify a funding source. There isn’t an estimate yet for when the work will be completed.
Until then, we leave you with some memorable quotes from the humorist, whose real name was Sam Clemens, courtesy of the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut:
- “There is no sadder thing than a young pessimist‚ except an old optimist.”
- “Always obey your parents when they are present.”
- “A full belly is little worth where the mind is starved.”
- “Nothing so needs reforming as other people’s habits.”
- “The man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.”
- “The lack of money is the root of all evil.”
- “If you tell truth you don’t have to remember anything.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2022 at 11:28 AM.
