Eureka Springs
AA-2026-F23D41
On the image
Standing sentinel over the Ozark Mountains, a colossal figure emerges from the haze, representing the era's ambition to combine grand religious statements with profitable roadside attractions. People in the 1970s often viewed these monumental efforts as both spiritual beacon and worthy vacation detour, a perfect blend of piety and tourism dollars.
Such a sight required specific effort: one had to travel to it, often across long stretches of rural highway, for the privilege of seeing it from a distance through a summer atmospheric effect. The experience was probably more about the journey and the bragging rights of having seen 'the big one' than any profound spiritual awakening.
It stood there, a silent, imposing guardian of faith and good intentions, or perhaps a permanent reminder that some ideas look much better on the drawing board than when executed at ninety times human scale on a distant ridge.
The historian's note
The Christ of the Ozarks is a colossal statue of Jesus Christ located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, completed in 1966. Standing 67 feet (20 meters) tall, it was designed by Emmet Sullivan and serves as the centerpiece of the Great Passion Play, an outdoor amphitheater production depicting the last days of Christ.
The statue is visible for miles around and became a prominent religious landmark and tourist destination in the American South during the latter half of the 20th century. It attracted visitors seeking both spiritual reflection and curiosity about its imposing scale and unique location within the rugged landscape of the Ozark Mountains.
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Christ of the Ozarks Statue, Eureka Springs, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-F23D41. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/christ-of-the-ozarks-statue-eureka-springs-1970s.
@misc{aaAA2026F23D41,
title = {Christ of the Ozarks Statue, Eureka Springs, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-F23D41},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/christ-of-the-ozarks-statue-eureka-springs-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Christ of the Ozarks Statue, Eureka Springs, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-F23D41 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/christ-of-the-ozarks-statue-eureka-springs-1970s ER -
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