Andy Griffith Monument, Raleigh
A bronze statue depicting widower Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and his young son, Opie (Ron Howard). The statue depicts the scene where father and son are walking a dirt road with their fishing poles during the opening sequence and theme song of the show.
Images: Front View | Left View | Right View | Back View | Plaque
Plaque on the left:
the Andy Griffith Show / a simpler time a sweeter place / a lesson a laugh / a father and a son / Presented by the people of TV LAND
October 28, 2003
35.779610 , -78.664030
"Andy Griffith Unveils Statue Paying Tribute to Show," WRAL.com, October 29, 2003, (accessed January 28, 2011) Link
Highsmith, Carol M. "The bronze, 2003 statue of television's "Andy Griffith Show" characters Andy Taylor (played by Griffith) and his son, Opie (played by Ron Howard) in Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina," 2017-06-14, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, loc.gov, (accessed January 18, 2020) Link
Hochberg, Adam. "Andy Griffith: A TV Icon From Mayberry to 'Matlock'," heard on All Things Considered, npr.org, July 3, 2012, (accessed January 18, 2020) Link
Washburn, Mark. "Charlotte Observer: TV Legend Andy Griffith Dies at 86 in Manteo," WFAE.90.7, (accessed January 15, 2014) Link
Yes
The Andy Taylor & Opie bronze statues were created by Studio EIS, a three-dimensional design and sculpture studio in New York founded by brothers Ivan and Elliot Schwartz.
TV Land
Mount Airy citizens opposed the statue in Raleigh because they believed the statue belonged in their home town. It has been vandalized several times. See more about the Andy Griffith Monument in Mount Airy.
The monument is located in Pullen Park in Raleigh.
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