Bronze Peanuts statues grace center in St. Paul

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Sep 24, 2003

Three bronze statues of the "Peanuts" gang are now permanent residents in downtown St. Paul's Landmark Center.

The bronze statues are a tribute to the late cartoonist Charles Schulz, a Minnesota native who created the "Peanuts" comic strip. Schulz died of colon cancer at 77 in February 2000.

Thousands braved Sunday's cool weather to attend a "Party in the Park" at Landmark Plaza and Rice Park, where the statues went on display.

The city raised the $1 million for the works by auctioning off polyurethane "Peanuts" sculptures that were set up around town during the past four summers.

The 4-foot-high statues are of Charlie Brown seated with Snoopy on his lap, Schroeder playing his piano with Lucy leaning across the piano, and Linus and Sally looking over a stone wall.

A fourth statue is under construction and will feature Marcie and Peppermint Patty.

The sculptures are designed to be child-safe with no sharp edges or small nooks where tiny hands or feet could get caught.