Barre, Vermont: The Whispering Statue
An acoustical anomaly enables someone to whisper to you from across a statue plaza. Reportedly better than the same whispering trick at St Paul's Cathedral.
- Address:
- Main St., Barre, VT
- Directions:
- Downtown, in the small city park, at the corner of Hwy 14/Main St. and US 302/Washington St. With a partner, sit on opposite benches in the curved plaza, with the statue "Youth Triumphant" blocking you. Whisper.
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Visitor Tips and News About The Whispering Statue
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I grew up in the house next door to a church near the statue, and used to roller skate in that park many years ago. I never heard the statue called anything about "youth" or "the naked man." He was the Warrior (He's holding a shield). Also, the Warrior didn't have anything to do with the whispers. The long seat behind him is a sounding board. There are steps up to this platform and the entire thing, statue and all, is carved from beautiful granite.
[Joanne Powers, 03/16/2020]
I thought librarians knew everything. The one at the library across the street from the statue had never heard about this. Luckily, everyone around her had.
[Passepartout22, 07/05/2009]I've been to St Paul's Cathedral and the statue's acoustics are better than that. You really think the other person is behind you. The statue is on the corner of the 302 and 110 in downtown Barre. The locals call it the Naked Man.
[Darren, 05/22/2009]The official name of the statue is "Youth Triumphant", but it is also known as "The Whispering Statue". Located in the town center, it is a war memorial from the 1920's and is surrounded by a semi-circular granite bench. If a person sits on the opposite side of the bench from you so that the statue blocks your view of each other, acoustics will "bounce" his/her voice so it sounds like s/he is sitting next to you.
[Seth Muzzy, 04/20/2002]Nearby Offbeat Places
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Statues that do unexpected things, like whispering, often acquire a crust of legend and dubious names.