The statue of ‘Christ the Redeemer’ is atop a mountain in Rio de Janeiro. Everyone knows it. But the United States has its own statue of “Christ the Redeemer,” and if you haven’t visited it yet, you should experience it when you have the chance.
The seven-story statue ‘Christ of the Ozarks’ has been one of the most visited attractions in the Ozarks since it was completed in 1966. Standing 67 feet tall, the statue dominates the view of the picturesque Victorian village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Christ of the Ozarks was an idea of Gerald L. K. Smith and designed by Emmet Sullivan. It was made with 24 layers of white mortar over a steel structure and weighs over 500 tons.Controversial History
Gerald L. K. Smith, a very controversial figure, was an activist associated with Holocaust denial, racism, antisemitism, and pro-Nazi sympathies. He retired in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where he bought and renovated an old mansion. In other parts of the property, he planned a religious theme park, which he called “Sacred Projects.” He commissioned the centerpiece, a gigantic statue of Jesus, completed in 1966, which he named Christ of the Ozarks.
He also built a 4,100-seat amphitheater. This is the site of seasonal outdoor performances of ‘The Great Passion Play,’ styled after the show presented in Oberammergau, Germany. It has been presented three nights a week from the first week of May until the end of October.
The statue does not please everyone and receives a lot of criticism. It has been nicknamed “Gumby Jesus” and “Our Milk Carton with Arms” by critics.