Bauxite Miner Family Statue
Bauxite, Arkansas
Reminding us somewhat of the Sunshine Mine Happy Family Statue in Idaho, the Bauxite Miner Family Statue portrays an idealized miner and his family circa the World War II heyday of the town. Sculpted life-size in bronze by Gary Alsum, the statue shows a miner in overalls carrying his lunch pail and hard hat as he says goodbye to his wife, who has a load of laundry in a peach basket and holds the couple's pig-tailed little girl. Nearby, the couple's barefoot boy plays with a model aluminum airplane, representing Bauxite's contribution to the war effort -- namely bauxite, the ore that was smelted into the aluminum that was used to build America's warplanes.
The sculpture, officially titled, "Unsung Heroes: Bauxite Miners," was unveiled in October 2008, on the front lawn of the Bauxite Museum, by three former bauxite miners.