Amidst the urban hustle, a bronze nymph reclines. She gazes serenely over Straus Monument, a poignant tribute to a love story tragically intertwined with the Titanic. The Straus Monument, nestled in Straus Park at the intersection of Broadway, West End Avenue, and 106th Street, commemorates Isidor and Ida Straus. Isidor, a US Congressman and Macy’s co-owner, and his beloved wife, Ida, perished together on the ill-fated ship. The Straus Monument captures Ida’s selfless decision to stay with her husband, forgoing a place on a lifeboat. The inscription, a verse from 2 Samuel 1:23, poignantly reads: “Lovely and pleasant were they in their lives and in their death they were not parted.” The Strauses, prominent residents of the Upper West Side, lived just a block south of the monument’s location. The statue, sculpted by Augustus Lukeman, depicts a nymph symbolizing memory, watching over a tranquil space. Originally, a bronze lion’s head fountain flowed into a reflecting pool, now transformed into a flowerbed. The park itself, once known as Bloomingdale Square, was renamed Straus Park in their honor. The monument, dedicated in 1915, stands as a testament to enduring love and a poignant reminder of the Titanic’s tragic tale. The serenity of Straus Monument offers a quiet respite from the city’s clamor, inviting reflection on the Strauses’ unwavering devotion and the enduring power of love in the face of tragedy.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to