A statue honoring Queen Elizabeth I – the first British colonist in the new world and one of the most powerful women of all time. Located at the heart of Elizabethan Gardens – the site where the original settlers established the first colony in America. The 9 feet tall bronze statue is the world’s largest statue of the queen. Created by Jon Hair and was dedicated on May 13th, 2004. It depicts the queen standing tall, wearing her majestic laced gown, holding traditional English flowers. The Elizabethan Gardens, opened in 1960, was an initiative of the Garden Club of North Carolina – a non-profit organization comprising more than 15,000 women. Their mission was to create a cultural attraction to enhance the significance of this historic site, where the first British colonialists settled in the new world. Read more...