Dick Dowling Statue – Houston

The USA’s culture has been influenced by many sub-cultures over the years and Houston is no exception. Home to the Dick Dowling Statue in Hermann Park, this monument was in fact the city’s very first public monument. The Dick Dowling Statue was revealed in 1905 on St. Patrick’s Day amidst much celebration.

The Dick Dowling Statue consists of a moustached soldier with a pair of field glasses in the one hand and a sword in the other. Around the Statue is a beautifully kept flower garden which is beautiful all by itself. Although this sword has gone missing 5 times in the Statue’s past, this mystery has only strengthened the intrigue surrounding it. The fact that Dick Dowling did not in fact own a sword is a further ironic twist to the saga.

The Irish-American influence in Houston is today as strong as anywhere in mainland America and this monument celebrated its centenary just a few years ago, attended by the leaders of the city’s Irish community. Daytime visits to Hermann Park are best for tourists as this is when the Park is bustling with local strollers, especially in the summer months.