Kate Sessions, Figurative Statue and Plaque

Title

Kate Sessions, Figurative Statue and Plaque

Creator

Hayward, Ruth

Commemorates

Sessions, Kate

Biographical Text

Bronze six-and-a-half foot statue depicting Sessions. Sculpted by artist Ruth Hayward.

Bronze rectangular plaque with gold text mounted on stone.

The statue and plaque are located in Balboa Park of San Diego, CA and were dedicated in 1989. Sessions was a devoted horticulturalist, given the title "mother of Balboa Park" for her contributions and work in support of the park. Together the statue and plaque honor her as that, providing textual information and a visual representation of her life for visitors.

Text

[Text on Plaque]
KATE SESSIONS
1857 - 1940
SCIENTIST, HORTICULTURALIST, NURSERYWOMAN
"MOTHER OF BALBOA PARK"
DURING HER LIFE, KATE SESSIONS CREATED GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES FOR ALL TO ENJOY. IN 1892 SHE BEGAN TRANSFORMING THE SURROUNDING AREA FROM SCRUB COVERED LAND INTO WHAT IS NOW BALBOA PARK. SHE INTRODUCED HUNDREDS OF OUR FAVORITE PLANTS AND TREES. HER VISION CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR LIVES WITH BEAUTY.
Ruth Hayward - Sculptor

Date Created

1989

Type

English Statue

English Signage

English Display

Bibliographic Citation

"Balboa Park may get a new statue," North County Times. Mar. 03, 1997.

About Kate, Kate Sessions Trees,

Sefton Plaza, Balboa Park

The Wisecracking Sculptor of Balboa Park, Voices of San Diego

Influencer, Kate Sessions, Hidden San Diego

Project Researcher

O'Neill, Iris