Ocean Springs News
Bronze Sculpture of Iberville Arrives at Permanent Home in Ocean Springs’ Fort Maurepas Park
Ocean Springs, MS – The true to life bronze sculpture of founding father and French Canadian explorer, Pierre LeMoyne Sieur d’Iberville arrived today, soon to make Ocean Springs historic Fort Maurepas park his permanent home.
The statue will receive its official welcome on Saturday, October 24, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., when Fort Maurepas Park has its grand opening complete with a formal ceremony, music, and ending with a fireworks shows.
The life size historic statue was designed by Canadian artist and sculptor Marlene Hilton Moore. Ms. Moore is best known for public artworks depicting life size historic figures, including The Valiants Memorial located in Ottawa, Ontario. Her first sculpture of Iberville is located there.
Local historian Ray L. Bellande assisted Ms. moore by providing accurate historic details of Iberville’s uniform and calument – or “peace pipe” that Iberville would have used when formally meeting with Native Americans he encountered. Mr. Bellande corresponded with scholars regarding his time in Mississippi and Louisiana and advised Ms. Moore during the production process of the statue.
“There are several statues of Iberville, including those in Canada and Havana, but the statue for Fort Maurepas Park will be uniquely Ocean Springs,” said Mayor Connie Moran. “Iberville was a true French Canadian hero. He is depicted in the French naval uniform he would have worn as he landed on our soil. It is a wonderful representation of our heritage.”
Funding for the Iberville sculpture was provided by: Village of Hinsdale, Illinois, Historic Ocean Springs Association, Public Art Project of Ocean Springs, FEMA, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Heritage Area program.
