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Golden Boy

Winnipeg, Canada

Golden Boy

The Golden Boy (official name: Eternal Youth and the Spirit of Enterprise) is a northward-facing statue perched on the dome of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Arguably the province's best-known symbol, the statue was modeled after the Roman god Mercury (Greek: Hermes

) and is meant to represent the prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit of Manitoba. The statue depicts a nude young man running forward carrying a torch in one hand and a bundle of wheat in the other. Weighing 1,650 kilograms (3,640 lb), it stands 5.25 metres (17.2 ft) tall from the toe to the top of the torch, and 4.27 metres (14.0 ft) from head to toe. When first installed, the tip of his torch—at 77 metres (253 ft) above ground—was the tallest point in Winnipeg. With the exception of several months in 2002 when the statue was lowered for restoration (including regilding), the Golden Boy has stood atop the Legislative Building since its opening.

Listen to the audio guide for Golden Boy Free on WIP — starts by itself when you arrive, even with the screen off

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