h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A87777391 Gaisman, Forrest, Tom Lee and More: How to Have a Memphis Park Named After You (And What Happens If You Do)

Could you please update this entry with the following information?

In 2013, Forrest Park was renamed 'Health Sciences Park'.

The city wanted to get rid of the statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest, as well as one of Jefferson Davis. Unfortunately, this was against Tennessee state law. So they allowed the formation of a nonprofit organisation called Greenspace, and transferred ownership of the park to them. The statues were removed, to the joy of some and the annoyance of others. In 2019, the statues were acquired by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, on condition that the statues be put up somewhere other than Memphis, or anywhere in Shelby County.

The statues were destined for the new (2020) $6m Confederate Museum in Columbia, Tennessee, although the museum's direct publicly expressed reservations at becoming 'a monument graveyard.'

People will want to know, in the current statue climate.

Thanks DG - that has been done.

I also updated the Central Park Sherman Statue link, as the one that was in the Entry had been taken over by malware or something.

Great, thank you!

I figured this might be of interest in the current climate, so we might as well be up-to-date.