Located on the north side of Front Street at Sycamore, the tiny pocket park containing the statue of King Gambrinus creeped passersby out for many years. Who was Gambrinus? In mythology, he invented beer. His statue guarded the entrance to the Gambrinus Brewing Comany, which stood here from 1906 to 1919.
Of course, with the gutting of the riverfront and the creation of the "arena district," King Gambrinus's fate was sealed. For a while they did their construction around him, but finally, in 1999, they took him out and demolished his park. Today you can see trendy restaurants and hotels where he once stood with his foot on a keg of beer and a glass in his hand. They say he'll be back, but it'll probably be in front of a Starbucks or something.
I photographed Gambrinus before he was murdered. Click below to see the pics.
Visit King Gambrinus's Park
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