Andy Griffith Monument, Mount Airy
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.
A SIMPLER TIME, A SWEETER PLACE
September 24, 2004
36.497750 , -80.608600
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"Mount Airy, North Carolina - Home of Mayberry amd Andy Griffith," Silly America, June 25th, 2012, (accessed January 15, 2014) Link
"The Andy Griffith Museum, Mount Airy, North Carolina," Surry Arts Council (accessed January 15, 2014) Link
"Vandals Hit Griffith Statue in Mount Airy," WRAL.com, February 23, 2003, (accessed June 28, 2011) 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
Yes
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.
TV Land
Friday September 24th, 2004 was the 15th annual Mayberry Days celebration in Mt. Airy. Mt. Airy native Andy Griffith, who was 78 years old at the time, was present at the unveiling ceremony.
On April 25, 2005 the monument was vandalized and the plaque was stolen. It was vandalized again and Andy’s hair was painted green in 2010.
The monument is located on 218 Rockford St. in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
The statue is located in the front of the Andy Griffith Playhouse.
The first statue of Andy Griffith was placed in Raleigh; TV Land later commissioned another one for Mount Airy.
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