National Register of Historic Places

Aviator, The

Charlotteville, Albemarle County, Virginia
Listed
November 9, 2006
Type
Object
Period
Listed
Ref No.
06000758

About this property

The Aviator is a historical sculpture located on the University of Virginia campus near Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia. The sculpture is a bronze statue commissioned in honor of University alumnus, James Rogers McConnell’s heroism and courage in World War I, as a member of the Lafayette Escadrille. The Aviator was designed by Gutzon Borglum and dedicated in 1919. The sculpture measures 12 feet high and 8 feet, 6 inches wide. It is located in front of Clemons Library on the grounds of the University of Virginia. Due to the library's abundant 24-hour study space available for students, The Aviator is a fixture in everyday life at the University. It is an athletic male nude with his feet placed shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent and arms outstretched supporting a pair of wings. The blade/knife; dirk or possible dagger/stiletto the figure has in his sheath is a recognized symbol of masculinity and of a warrior. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

Location

575 Alderman Rd.
Charlotteville, Albemarle County, Virginia
38.03841, -78.50546

Categories

ART
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Carr's Hill
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0.1 mi
Memorial Gymnasium
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0.1 mi
Morea
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0.2 mi
Rotunda, University of Virginia
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0.2 mi
Recoleta
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0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Aviator, The listed on the National Register?

Aviator, The was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 9, 2006.

What type of historic resource is Aviator, The?

Aviator, The is classified as a object in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Aviator, The?

The period of significance for Aviator, The is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Aviator, The?

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