4/5 Chris M. 5 years ago on Google • 201 reviews
The
sculpture
depicts
figures
of
various
ethnic
groups
and
eras,
including
an
Eastern
European
Jew,
a
freed
African
slave,
a
priest,
and
a
worker.
The
figures’
expressive
poses
emphasize
the
struggle
and
toil
inherent
in
the
experience
of
the
immigrant
or
dislocated
person.
The
sculpture
is
located
at
the
south
end
of
the
Eisenhower
Mall
in
Battery
Park
near
Castle
Clinton,
which
served
as
a
processing
facility
for
newly
arrived
immigrants
from
1855
to
1890,
when
construction
began
on
a
larger,
more
remote
facility
at
nearby
Ellis
Island.
The
piece
was
donated
by
Samuel
Rudin
(1896–1975),
who
commissioned
the
sculpture
in
the
early
1970s,
intending
it
to
be
installed
near
Castle
Clinton
as
a
memorial
to
his
parents,
who,
as
it
is
noted
on
the
plinth,
emigrated
to
the
United
States
in
the
late-19th
century.
Although
Rudin
died
in
1975,
Rudin’s
family
took
up
the
campaign
to
install
the
sculpture
at
the
park,
and
it
eventually
was
dedicated
on
May
4,
1983.
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