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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  William Henry Belk Statue, Charlotte. Photo by Jody Mace

  • Monument Name

    William Henry Belk Statue, Charlotte

  • Type

    Statue

  • Subjects

    Historic Philanthropic Figures

    Historic Civic Figures

  • Creator

    Antonio Mendez, New Arts Foundry, Baltimore MD, Sculptor

  • City

    Charlotte

  • County

    Mecklenburg

  • Description

    The bronze statue to William Henry Belk is seven-feet tall and weighs 700 lbs. He is dressed in a 1920’s style three piece business suit holding a pair of scissors in his proper right hand. The left hand is resting on a bolt of cloth leaning against his left leg.

  • Dedication Date

    May 12, 2015

  • Decade

    2010s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.212740 , -80.836340 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Charlotte's First Belk Store," The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed June 17, 2023) Link

      Price, Mark. “Belk’s Founder to Be Honored on History Trail,” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), May 12, 2015

      Wyche, Jr., Paul B. “Belk, William Henry,” NCpedia.org, (accessed May 29, 2023) Link

      “New Belk Statue for History Trail,” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), January 14, 2021, (accessed May 29, 2023) Link

      “William Henry Belk,” Trail of History, charlottetrailofhistory.org, (accessed May 28, 2023) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Bronze

  • Sponsors

    Trail of History Inc.

  • Subject Notes

    William Henry Belk was the founder of what are today Belk department stores. Belk was known as an innovator with his business strategies that included clearly marked retail pricing, refunding of items, stressing of customer service and centralized purchasing. Belk was not known to be socially or politically active but worked hard to support other businesses and business men. Belk was a devout Presbyterian and his philanthropy through the John M. Belk Memorial Fund supported upwards of 335 church building projects and manses for ministers.

  • Location

    The statue is located on the Trail of History near the Metropolitan development off of Charlottetown Avenue in Charlotte, NC. This statue is one of 21 existing or planned statues along the trail, the first of which was The Spirit of Mecklenburg.

  • Landscape

    The Trail of History near uptown Charlotte follows the Little Sugar Creek Greenway pedestrian zone along Kings Drive between 7th St. and Morehead St. The greenway in whole runs four miles along the small stream lined with trees, shrubbery, flowering plants, and places for seating.

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