La Dame de Notre Renaissance Française Statue

La Dame de Notre Renaissance Française Statue is located at Water Street in Nashua, New Hampshire, United States. Dedicated on May 19, 2001, this statue stands in the center of Renaissance Park, also known as Le Parc de Notre Renaissance Française, along the Nashua River. Privately funded by the Franco-American community, led by Laurin Hippauf, this sculpture honors the women and children who worked in the mills during the first half of the 20th century.

The first wave of French-Canadian immigrants arrived in Nashua between 1870 and 1872, and by 1936, a significant portion of the city's population was French. Working in the textile mills, they established schools, churches, and businesses to support their growing community. The bronze sculpture, created by Christopher R. Gowell, depicts a young mill worker and her son, symbolizing the hard work and dedication of the French-Canadian immigrants.

Standing six feet tall on a three-foot base, the statue serves as a reminder of Nashua's French heritage and the contributions of the immigrants. It portrays a mother with a spindle in her pocket and a cross around her neck, looking down at her son who is holding a French language book. The park and the sculpture itself highlight the history and culture of the Franco-American community in Nashua.