Created to honor those lost their lives in the line of duty, the Houston Police Officers Memorial allows audiences to experience the sacrifices made by Houston police officers in numerous ways. Providing them with a place to emotionally reflect and physically engage, the landmark connects with a legacy that extends across the eras.
A Functional Ziggurat
Created in 1991, the Houston Police Officers Memorial is a large-scale granite sculpture by artist Jesús Bautista Moroles. Measuring 120 feet by 120 feet, it was made in the shape of a Greek cross and is defined by one central stepped pyramid and four surrounding inverted pyramids. At the top, the names of all the Houston officers who have died protecting the city are carved into a square reflecting pool made of granite.
The multiple blocky square layers built upon each other make it a functional ziggurat, which were created as shrines and important elements of ancient civilizations. The inverted pyramids extend 12 feet into the ground and are lined with granite walls and grassy levels. Each pyramid is 40 feet on a side. These levels allow audiences to experience the piece upwards and downwards.
Costing $630,000 to complete, a group of local foundations and endowments funded the project. Every year a ceremony is held to honor the sacrifices of the officers, while everyday visitors are encouraged to engage with and relax in the space. It is surrounded by trails with runners, walkers, and cyclists constantly in the area and also featured on maps and markers across the city, highlighting the numerous ways it reflects and has become part of the community.
Providing audiences with numerous experiences that connect them to the history of the city, residents and visitors can engage with the Houston Police Officers Memorial by doing anything from reading the names of the officers to relaxing on the grass to moving from one level of the monument to another. These experiences resonate with residents and visitors in ways that are as deep as they are long-lasting.
Connected to a Larger Legacy
Free to visit, the memorial is guarded 24-hours a day by volunteer Houston Police personnel, further connecting it to the community. With the Houston skyline prominently residing behind the monument, the Houston Police Officers Memorial showcases what it can mean to provide audiences with multiple experiences that are connected to a larger legacy, all of which resonate with them in specific ways, for multiple reasons, across countless eras.
