V C Bird Monument, St. John`s

V C Bird Monument, St. John`s

The V C Bird Monument, an imposing tribute to the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Vere Cornwall Bird, stands prominently in the middle of a traffic intersection in downtown St. John's. Born in St. John's in 1910, Bird played a pivotal role in the history of Antigua and Barbuda, becoming the first Prime Minister in 1981 and holding the position until 1994.

Vere Cornwall Bird's leadership was instrumental in guiding the twin-island nation from a British colony to an independent nation. Regarded by many as the "father of the nation," Bird's legacy is honored throughout Antigua, with various tributes paying homage to his contributions. Notably, the international airport was renamed in his honor. However, the V C Bird Monument holds a distinctive place among these tributes, standing out for its bright colors and prominent location.

Installed in 2002, just three years after Bird's passing, the monument is a brightly colored bust of the late Prime Minister. The Cuban artist Andres Gonzalez designed and sculpted the monument, which stands at an impressive height of 10 meters (33 feet). The sculpture portrays a besuited, middle-aged Bird, with his hand placed on his chest. Notably, Bird himself stood at an imposing height of 2.1 meters (seven feet).

Adjacent to the statue is a black pineapple, a unique fruit considered a delicacy on the island and symbolizing Antigua's distinct identity. The V C Bird Monument occupies a prime position in downtown St. John's, next to the public market, enhancing its visibility and significance.

Despite its prominence, getting a close-up view of the monument can be challenging due to its location in a small triangular space at the intersection of busy roads. The plaza around the monument is unfortunately closed to the public, but visitors can still appreciate the statue from a distance through the railings.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in St. John`s. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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V C Bird Monument on Map

1
50 m
100 ft
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sight Name: V C Bird Monument
Sight Location: St. John`s, Antigua and Barbuda (See walking tours in St. John`s)
Sight Type: Statue/Public Art

Walking Tours in St. John`s, Antigua and Barbuda

Create Your Own Walk in St. John`s

Create Your Own Walk in St. John`s

Creating your own self-guided walk in St. John`s is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
St. John's Introduction Walking Tour

St. John's Introduction Walking Tour

The capital of Antigua and Barbuda, Saint John’s doubles as the nation's primary port. Given its size (the largest city on the island) and the variety of attractions available, it is a favorite stop for Caribbean island-hopping cruises.

Saint John's is named for the island's patron saint and has a storied past deeply rooted in indigenous cultures (the Arawaks and Caribs) and...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles