Historic Article

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Facts about our Golden Boy

Premier issues invitation to once-in-lifetime event

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 02/8/2002 5:34 AM | Comments: 0

The Golden Boy stands 5.25 metres tall and weighs 1,650 kilograms. (Recent examinations showed the statue weighs about three tonnes less than experts had thought).

At his highest point, the Golden Boy is 77 metres off the ground.

The idea of putting a statue on top of the legislature was conceived by Legislative Building architect Frank Simon.

Golden Boy was actually created in France by sculptor Georges Gardet and modelled after a 16th-century sculpture of the Roman god Mercury.

Golden Boy was cast in bronze in 1918 and lifted to his perch on top of the dome on Nov. 21, 1919. He was guilded in 24-carat gold in 1951, and the light in his torch was installed and lit on New Year's Eve in 1966.

The Golden Boy was positioned to face north, on the assumption that Manitoba's future lay in its undeveloped northern regions.

Golden Boy will be on display at the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature from Feb. 12 to March 7. The exhibit opens on Feb. 12 at noon. Viewing will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the Golden Boy exhibit will be free.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 8, 2002 $sourceSection$sourcePage

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