High winds knocked over the iconic 12-foot Iron Horse statue in Greene County on Sunday, leaving the University of Georgia (UGA) to investigate why the statue was not securely reinstalled. The statue, a landmark on Georgia Highway 15, was recently refurbished and reinstalled in December at the Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm owned by UGA. Despite the refurbishments, the statue fell less than three months later, toppled by natural forces.
“We are aware that high winds toppled the Iron Horse Statue,” UGA spokesman Greg Trevor said this week. “The conservator has assessed the sculpture and determined that damage is minimal. We are awaiting an explanation from the conservator on why the Iron Horse was not securely reinstalled.”
UGA is working to have the sculpture, created in 1954, put back in place on its pedestal, according to Trevor.
Securing the Iron Horse statue
The location is about 25 miles south of Athens. Over its long history at the site, the statue has been defaced and damaged but had never fallen over until this incident.
Originally owned privately, the Iron Horse statue recently came under UGA’s care. Social media photos show the statue lying on its side and a hole in its base, suggesting it may not have been bolted down securely or that the bolt had been removed. The unique rural location of the statue has made it a popular spot for photographers and tourists.
It was initially placed on the UGA campus but was relocated following controversy over its modern-art depiction of a horse in the 1950s. UGA continues its efforts to restore the Iron Horse to its rightful place, working diligently to ensure it is secured properly to prevent such incidents in the future.