Monuments & Statues in Whitehorse
THE 5 BEST Whitehorse Monuments & Statues
Monuments & Statues in Whitehorse
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Monuments & Statues
Recommended Sightseeing Experiences (32)
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Monuments & Statues
Monuments & Statues
Monuments & Statues
What travellers are saying
- Film GNew England1,047 contributionsIt's next to the main fire station, near the airport. It's made of scrap steel donated by locals, and has a time capsule buried in its plinth. Cute. A stop takes maybe 5 minutes.Written June 9, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,858 contributionsCreated by Harreson Tanner, and unveiled in 2016, this bronze bust of Pierre Berton was the first one I noticed – of the 9 different busts commissioned by Rolf and Marg Hougen – during our ambles through Whitehorse during the Rendezvous weekend. And, really, how could one not take notice? Pierre Berton is a decorated Yukoner through and through. First gaining fame as a journalist and broadcaster, Berton shot to meteoric heights once he applied his engaging and vivid writing style to the writing of history. The publishing, in 1958, of his “The Klondike Fever” set the tone not only for the Yukon, but the rest of the country as well. Berton followed this book with a host of others, which equally caught the country’s attention: The National Dream (1970), The Last Spike (1971), Hollywood’s Canada (1975), and Vimy (1986), amongst a host of others. For his outstanding work in literature and media, Berton received the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour (1959); Order of Canada in 1974; the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977; the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002; and the Governor General’s Award on three separate occasions!
With such high level accolades, creating this bust of Berton must’ve been stressful for the artist; however, I’m pleased to see the signature bowtie wasn’t missed! Anyway, if you’re new to Pierre Berton, this bust and its accompanying information plaque is but a primer towards a much larger and richer journey.
Bravo, again, to the Hougens for commissioning these busts of important Yukoners and “thank you” to the city of Whitehorse for installing them around town.Written April 26, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,858 contributionsCommissioned and donated by Rolf and Marg Hougen, this bronze bust of George Black was created by Harreson Tanner and unveiled in 2020. It can be found on the northwest corner of Front and Steele Streets.
I said in my earlier review of the Erik Nielsen sculpture that I appreciate this series of “busts of important Yukoners” because it helps locals and tourists alike to get a better fix and feel for the area’s local history and culture. Indeed, this could not be truer for the bronze bust of George Black. While he’s likely familiar to many a Yukoner, I was completely ignorant as to who Mr. Black was and why he’s an important figure in local history. Thankfully this bust, and its accompanying information plaque, helped lift my veil of ignorance. So who was Mr. Black and why is there a sculpture in his honour outside the MacBride Museum?
In short, we learn that George Black was a “larger-than-life” figure in the Yukon. Before entering the world of territorial and federal politics (for which he is most well-known), he came to the Yukon and partook in the Klondike Gold Rush; staked many a mining claim; climbed the White Pass; and when that was all said and done, Mr. Black set up a law practice in Dawson City where he played a major role representing miners and loggers – basically people in the primary sectors. It was also during this time that he began dabbling in local politics, serving on the territorial Council for three terms between 1905 and 1911. Mr. Black would then be elevated to Commissioner of the Yukon (1912-16) before moving on to federal politics where he served as the Speaker of the House from 1930-35, and then as an MP from 1940-49. Perhaps one of his greatest accomplishments, while in office, was securing the passage of the Yukon Quartz Mining Act, which provided the Yukon with a secure free entry system of mining.
Consider my veil of ignorance lifted! Our history – local, regional and national – is important. Without cultural and historic signifiers like these busts, we run the risk of a sort of historic amnesia. Hence, these pieces are important because they remind us of where we came from and how we got here. As you amble about downtown Whitehorse, do take a moment or two to read about these figures and how they shaped this special place!Written April 25, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,858 contributionsCommissioned and donated by Rolf & Marg Hougen, and created by Harreson Tanner, this handsome bronze bust of Ted Harrison was unveiled in 2017. It can be found on the southeast corner of Main Street and 2nd avenue. And, again, I must express my sincere thanks to the donors for this wonderful initiative. Thanks to their desire to see more of the Yukon’s major figures honoured in a tangible way and manner, we can learn about how aspects of the Yukon Territory were shaped and formed historically, culturally and politically. It allows us, in a few words, to have a better understanding of this beautiful territory.
With respect to Ted Harrison, I confess to only being vaguely aware of him as an artist – and this understanding comes from my childhood and reading a book version of Robert Service’s “Cremation of Sam McGee,” of which Harrison did the artwork. I can still recall the vivid, albeit unusual, colouring that was used to animate the book. Looking at it now, the colouring really seemed to capture the essence and feel of the Yukon. You get the sense of frigid cold and, yet, there’s also warmth to the images as well. Reflecting on this, and other works by Harrison, it is little wonder he was awarded the Order of Canada in 1987 for his contributions to Canadian culture. Harrison’s love of this place – the Yukon – shines brightly, like a “rainbow road,” in his artwork. This simple bronze bust is thus a fitting tribute to a man who’s done much to brighten and bring wandering eyes to the Yukon Territory.Written April 26, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Film GNew England1,047 contributionsStatue of a prominent local fellow on Front Street near the MacBride Museum. Read the description and walk on. Nicely constructed.Written June 9, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
