The Monument to Joe Louis is a sculpture located in downtown Detroit, Michigan that is dedicated to legendary American boxer Joe Louis.
Unveiled in 1986, the monument was funded by Sports Illustrated, designed by sculptor Robert Graham and cast by bronze sculptor Rolf Kriken. The monument features a 7.3-meter, 2.2 tonne representation of Louis’ right arm which is suspended by a pyramidal frame.
Symbolically, the monument’s battering ram style design is intended to represent both Louis’ sporting achievements and his efforts to fight for racial equality. The design was criticized when originally unveiled, with critics questioning why a full-sized statue of Louis wasn’t installed instead. Over time, the perception of the monument has changed as it has now become one of the cities most popular symbols.
