Spartan Statue Facts Here are facts about The Spartan statue, which stands at the intersection of Red Cedar Road, Kalamazoo Street and Chestnut Road just south of the Red Cedar River on the Michigan State University campus.
| Height (statue only) |
9'7" |
| Height (including base) |
13'10" |
| Girth at shoulders |
7'7" |
| Girth at waist |
4'9" |
| Girth at base |
9'4" |
| Widest width |
4'1" |
| Width at base |
3'5" |
| Weight |
5,000 lbs. (estimated) |
| Dedication |
June 9, 1945 |
| Sculptor |
Leonard D. Jungwirth, assistant professor of art, Michigan State University |
| Construction/elements |
The statue is constructed of five large terra cotta clay sections joined by mortar joints, with a poured concrete core over a steel armature and a ceramic glaze. |
| Conception of Spartan statue |
The idea of a statue was conceived by then-Michigan State College Athletic Director Ralph Young in 1932 when he was visiting the University of Southern California and saw USC's huge Trojan statue. Students attempted to design a Spartan statue, but the project failed. Nothing more was done until 1941 when John Hannah became president of MSC. Assistant Professor Leonard Jungwirth began the project in 1943. |
| SPARTAN NICKNAME |
Michigan State University's athletic teams were nicknamed "Spartans" by George Alderton, sports editor of the Lansing State Journal, on April 2, 1926. | | 
