Rebuild the Bear
©Lisa Hupp
Rebuild the Bear was a community effort to erect a bronze Kodiak bear, replacing the historic but weathered fiberglass statue that has welcomed visitors to Kodiak Island for the past 60 years. This iconic landmark recognizes guides and others who contributed to the conservation of Kodiak brown bears. The new statue continues this legacy, and serves as a lasting tribute to the cultural, historical, and economic importance of Kodiak bears - and a reminder that we can coexist and thrive with bears on our island home for generations to come.
This statue is a monument to the presence of our Island's magnificent bears and their significance in our lives. It also commemorates Kodiak's first registered bear - guide, Charles Madsen, who established the Kodiak Guides Association in 1929 and worked with local Alutiiq natives to guide sportsmen from around the world. Alarmed by growing pressures on the bear population in the early 20th century, Kodiak guides, hunters, and others were important advocates for bear conservation: they championed the creation of Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge in 1941 to protect bears and their habitat.
In 1955, the original statue stood in front of the Kodiak Hotel, greeting visitors who arrived in Kodiak by boat. A mural at the dock proclaimed the Emerald Isle "Home of the World's Largest Bear," and the statue proudly rose above the channel, It survived the 1964 tsunami that devastated Kodiak's harbor and downtown; as the community rebuilt and grew, it moved to different locations, including the Harbormaster's building. In 2011, the bear statue found a fitting home outside of the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, welcoming everyone and reminding us all of the importance of bears in our community and island villages.
This statue is a monument to the presence of our Island's magnificent bears and their significance in our lives. It also commemorates Kodiak's first registered bear - guide, Charles Madsen, who established the Kodiak Guides Association in 1929 and worked with local Alutiiq natives to guide sportsmen from around the world. Alarmed by growing pressures on the bear population in the early 20th century, Kodiak guides, hunters, and others were important advocates for bear conservation: they championed the creation of Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge in 1941 to protect bears and their habitat.
Over time, Kodiak's wild climate has irreparably damaged our venerable and welcoming bear. Kodiak's guides envisioned land set aside in perpetuity for bear conservation, and 2016 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Kodiak Refuge. The new life-sized bronze statue will endure, welcoming all who come to our island, celebrating our history, and honoring our unique connection to Kodiak bears.
