Standing alongside the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Monument to the Immigrant is dedicated to all of the courageous men and women who left their homeland to seek freedom in the United States and settled in New Orleans. Since New Orleans is recognized as a gateway where various cultures blend and mix, the monument is connected to a legacy for the city and the United States as a whole.
Commissioned by the Italian American Marching Club
Erected in March 1995, the Monument to the Immigrant portrays an immigrant family on the side that faces the French Quarter of New Orleans. On the other side is a stylized figure shaped like the front of a ship, symbolizing the historic connection that New Orleans has as a port city and a city of immigrants. Additionally, the site of the monument was one of the first places where generations of immigrants first touched solid ground when they arrived in the United States.
The Italian American Marching Club of New Orleans commissioned Franco Alessandrini to sculpt the monument. Italians have had a presence in the area since the explorations of the Europeans, with many Sicilians immigrating to New Orleans in the 19th century. While the Monument to the Immigrant connects with this legacy, it was ultimately designed to be a symbol of hope for different civilizations and different audiences across the eras of New Orleans.
Cultivating a sense of connection to the many immigrants who have made New Orleans what it is while also ensuring their memories and sacrifices would not be forgotten, Monument to the Immigrant is dedicated to these very people who sought to improve their life and the life of their family. Doing so has defined a legacy that has impacted the culture of New Orleans and the entire region.
Highlighting the Culture and History of New Orleans
In the early 19th century, nearly 90 percent of the new immigrants to the United States settled in New Orleans. The Monument to the Immigrant celebrates this connection to the past and the influence it has had on the present of the city, highlighting what it can mean for a monument to bridge eras and cultures in a way that resonates with audiences of all types.
