Have You Heard of Iowa’s Own Little Mermaid?
You'd think a landlocked state like Iowa wouldn't be a good home to a mermaid...
The latest Disney cinematic release is a live-action remake of the 1989 film 'The Little Mermaid.' This retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fable was released in theaters on May 26th.
In the film's opening weekend, this fish out of water story brought in approximately $117.5 million in North America.
Disney isn't alone in having a Little Mermaid, Iowans actually have their very own mermaid.
She lives in a small town called Kimballtown...
Kimballtown has a rich Danish heritage, and it also has a statue garden celebrating one of the culture's most well-known writers, Hans Christian Andersen.
Hans Christian Andersen's the Little Mermaid & Sculpture Garden has eight different sculptures all depicting characters from some of the author's most well-known works.
There are bronze sculptures of Thumbelina, the Little Match Girl, the children from the Snow Queen, the Ugly Duckling, the Steadfast Tin Soldier, the Tinder Box, the Princess and the Pea, and even the Little Mermaid herself.
The latter is a part of a beloved fountain in the heart of the town. Also, this bronze statue is a recreation of the one that is in Andersen's Copenhagen Harbor. Both statues are approximately 4 feet tall.
This Iowa landmark has the following inscription written along it;
"H.C. ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALE "THE LITTLE MERMAID" IS
THE STORY OF A MERMAID LONGING FOR THE LOVE OF A
MORTAL PRINCE AND FOR AN IMMORTAL HUMAN SOUL."
Iowa's own Little Mermaid was created in 1978 as a fiberglass statue. Due to significant weathering over twenty years, the statue was recast in bronze back in 2008. Then it was installed in Mermaid Park with the fountain that surrounds her to this day.
Stay up to date with local news and events by downloading the free station app from your app store. Also, make sure you are in the know of all things in Eastern Iowa by following the station across all social media platforms.