First statue honoring women for Central Park

NEW YORK — Central Park has 23 statues of men who left their mark in history but not a single one honoring the accomplishments of a woman.

That will change after a city commission voted Monday to erect a monument depicting three pioneers in the fight for women’s rights: Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth. The likeness of Truth, an escaped slave and abolitionist, was added to the sculpture in response to criticism that African American suffragists were initially excluded.

“This statue conveys the power of women working together to bring about revolutionary change in our society,” said Pam Elam, president of the Monumental Women nonprofit of volunteer advocates, historians and community leaders, with key support from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. The organization’s statue fund privately raised $1.5 million to create and maintain the new monument and for an associated educational program.

The work will be dedicated in August on The Mall, a stately park promenade lined with American elms. Next year marks 100 years since American women won the right to vote.

The work by artist Meredith Bergmann will break what some call the “bronze ceiling” in the 166-year-old park — the lack of sculptures honoring women, discounting fictional characters like Mother Goose and Alice in Wonderland. The bronze piece will join ones of men including Christopher Columbus, Alexander Hamilton, William Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott.