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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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  • Monument Name

    Andy Griffith Monument, Raleigh

  • Type

    Sculpture

  • Subjects

    Historic Cultural Figures

  • Creator

    TV Land, Designer

    Stuart Williamson, Sculptor

    Studio EIS, Brooklyn, NY, Designer

  • City

    Raleigh

  • County

    Wake

  • Description

    A bronze statue depicting widower Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and his young son, Opie (Ron Howard). The statue depicts the scene where father and son are walking a dirt road with their fishing poles during the opening sequence and theme song of the show.

    Images: Front View | Left View | Right View | Back View | Plaque

  • Inscription

    Plaque on the left:
    the Andy Griffith Show / a simpler time a sweeter place / a lesson a laugh / a father and a son / Presented by the people of TV LAND

  • Dedication Date

    October 28, 2003

  • Decade

    2000s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.779610 , -78.664030 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Andy Griffith Unveils Statue Paying Tribute to Show," WRAL.com, October 29, 2003, (accessed January 28, 2011) Link

      Highsmith, Carol M. "The bronze, 2003 statue of television's "Andy Griffith Show" characters Andy Taylor (played by Griffith) and his son, Opie (played by Ron Howard) in Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina," 2017-06-14, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, loc.gov, (accessed January 18, 2020) Link

      Hochberg, Adam. "Andy Griffith: A TV Icon From Mayberry to 'Matlock'," heard on All Things Considered, npr.org, July 3, 2012, (accessed January 18, 2020) Link

      Washburn, Mark. "Charlotte Observer: TV Legend Andy Griffith Dies at 86 in Manteo," WFAE.90.7, (accessed January 15, 2014) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    The Andy Taylor & Opie bronze statues were created by Studio EIS, a three-dimensional design and sculpture studio in New York founded by brothers Ivan and Elliot Schwartz.

  • Sponsors

    TV Land

  • Controversies

    Mount Airy citizens opposed the statue in Raleigh because they believed the statue belonged in their home town. It has been vandalized several times. See more about the Andy Griffith Monument in Mount Airy.

  • Landscape

    The monument is located in Pullen Park in Raleigh.

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