Sep 30, 2024 - News
Why Richmond now has a giant fish statue
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The James River's largest and longest-living resident now has its own sculpture.
Why it matters: The new piece of public art commemorates the James River's rebounding health over the past half century, which allowed the endangered Atlantic sturgeon to return to the James.
- And it's now on view along the riverfront near Rocketts Landing.
The big picture: The James River Association unveiled the sturgeon sculpture earlier this month at the James A. Buzzard River Education Center, inside Dock Street Park, the city's new park.
- The piece, by Virginia-based artist David Turner, is dedicated to the group's CEO, Bill Street, who helped steer the org and the river's recovery for the last 20 or so years.
Fun fact: The Atlantic sturgeon is the James River's largest and longest-lived resident, according to JRA.
- It can grow up to 14-feet long and up to 800 pounds.
- And it was around during the age of dinosaurs, so definitely longer than you, your forgotten PBR cans or the river's perennial modern inhabitant: our sewage water.