Troy’s Christ of the Ohio Illuminated Statue Strengthens Riverfront Identity
The 11-foot-4-inch "Christ of the Ohio" statue, commissioned in the 1950s and now owned by the Town of Troy, remains a visible nightly landmark for river traffic and motorists along SR 66. Its continued illumination and documentation by the Smithsonian in 1993 underline the statue’s cultural value and raise practical questions about municipal stewardship and local heritage promotion.
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Standing above the Ohio River in Troy, the 11-foot-4-inch Christ of the Ohio has been a midcentury presence on the town’s skyline since it was commissioned in the 1950s by Dr. N.A. James and sculpted by Herbert Jogerst. Now owned and maintained by the Town of Troy, the statue is lit after dark and is readily visible to both river traffic and motorists traveling State Route 66, forming a persistent visual anchor on the community’s riverfront.
The Smithsonian’s Save Outdoor Sculpture survey documented the work in 1993, a record that places the statue within a broader catalogue of American outdoor sculpture and signals its recognized historic and artistic value. That documentation also provides a baseline for any future preservation efforts, giving local officials and volunteer groups a clear reference point for condition assessments and conservation planning.
For residents and municipal leaders, the statue’s prominence matters for reasons beyond aesthetics. A visible, well-maintained landmark contributes to local identity and can play a modest role in attracting visitors to the riverfront. Small towns across the Midwest have increasingly leaned on cultural and natural assets to support community events, seasonal visitation and complementary local spending. For Troy, the statue’s nighttime illumination amplifies those benefits by extending the landmark’s visibility into evening hours when river traffic and passersby can see it most clearly.
Municipal ownership also brings responsibilities and budgetary trade-offs. Lighting, routine maintenance, and any conservation work documented in surveys such as the Smithsonian’s require funding and project management. Town officials face choices about whether to allocate local funds, seek state historic-preservation assistance, pursue grants from arts or heritage programs, or partner with regional organizations to share costs and programming opportunities. Documentation like the 1993 survey can strengthen applications for external support by demonstrating the statue’s recognized significance.
Longer-term, the Christ of the Ohio sits at the intersection of midcentury religious art, riverfront heritage, and local economic strategy. As river-based recreation and heritage tourism remain important components of regional economic development, maintaining visible, well-documented public art assets gives Troy tangible options for storytelling, wayfinding, and modest visitor attraction.
For residents planning a visit or for visitors seeking more information, see the Town of Troy page for details on location and viewing. Preserving and promoting the Christ of the Ohio will involve balancing maintenance costs with the cultural and economic benefits that a well-kept riverfront landmark provides to the Perry County community.
