Kossuth
County Iowa celebrated the 150th Anniversary of its establishment
in the year 2001. In order to commemorate this historical
event, the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors approved plans of
a volunteer committee to honor the namesake of Kossuth County, Iowa.
"Kossuth on State" is a life-sized bronze sculpture of
the Hungarian Patriot, Lajos Kossuth, which has been placed on the
front lawn of the Kossuth County Courthouse on State Street in Algona,
Iowa. The sculpture was created and cast by award winning local
Kossuth County artist, Wayne Thompson, of Swea City, Iowa. The dedication
of the sculpture coincided with the 150th anniversary of the establishment
of Kossuth County.
The sculpture was placed on a solid granite base approximately four
feet square and four feet in height. A bronze plaque with a brief
history of Lajos Kossuth was placed on the base of the statue.
Patio stone and paving brick surround the base of the statue. The
patio area directly in the front of the statue is laid out in the
shape of a map of Kossuth County. Each township is clearly defined
and a granite paver is placed in the center of each township with
the township name. Each town in the county is marked in its correct
location on the map with a granite paver inscribed with the name
of the town and date the town was established. Within the interior
of each township are spaces for engraved 4" x 8" bricks
and 8" x 8" granite pavers. The area around the base of
the statue are spaces for 8" x 12" and 8" x 16"
granite pavers.
A final extra touch to the project is the placement of solid granite
benches on the perimeter of the patio area.
The "Kossuth on State" project was sanctioned by the Kossuth
County Board of Supervisors who accepted the sculpture for placement
on the grounds of the Kossuth County Courthouse. Initial funding
for this project came from the Board of Supervisors and also from
a grant from the Iowa Arts Council. The remainder of the project
was from donations and sales of the engraved bricks and granite
pavers.
The sculpture was dedicated at the county-wide ceremony and celebration
with the Hungarian and Iowa Officials as well as Local Officials
from throughout the County were in attendance. The dedication was
July 13th, 2001.
Kossuth County Economic Development Corporation
106 South Dodge Street, Suite 210, Algona, Iowa 50511
515-295-7979 | Fax: 515-295-8873 kcedc@kossuthia.com
Kossuth
County Iowa celebrated the 150th Anniversary of its establishment
in the year 2001. In order to commemorate this historical
event, the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors approved plans of
a volunteer committee to honor the namesake of Kossuth County, Iowa.
Patio stone and paving brick surround the base of the statue. The
patio area directly in the front of the statue is laid out in the
shape of a map of Kossuth County. Each township is clearly defined
and a granite paver is placed in the center of each township with
the township name. Each town in the county is marked in its correct
location on the map with a granite paver inscribed with the name
of the town and date the town was established. Within the interior
of each township are spaces for engraved 4" x 8" bricks
and 8" x 8" granite pavers. The area around the base of
the statue are spaces for 8" x 12" and 8" x 16"
granite pavers.
