Twenty Years Strong, 67 Feet High

The Houstonian (Oct. 21) celebrates two decades of Big Sam:

“Big Sam” will be celebrating his 20th anniversary this Saturday on Oct. 25 from 12-3 p.m. The event will be held by the statue and visitor center located at 7600 State Highway 75 South.

The monument is the world’s tallest statue of an American hero and was dedicated to Huntsville on Oct. 22, 1994. The center celebrates annually, with birthday cake available to the public, every Oct. 22.

However, every five-year anniversary, the group hosts a larger, more involved event.

The Sam Houston statue is one of the biggest attractions in Huntsville and construction on it began in 1991 by artist David Adickes. Adickes was born and educated in Huntsville from which his love and appreciation for Sam Houston stemmed. The statue itself was a three-year project and a gift to the city from Adickes.