Solomon Northup Statue Unveiling

What: Solomon Northup Statue Unveiling
When: Sunday, January 4, 2026
Time: 2:00pm
Where: Avoyelles Parish Courthouse
312 N. Main Street
Marksville LA 71351

Why: Preserving the Solomon Northup Legacy
Regained his freedom from this location on January 4, 1853

The public is warmly invited to gather for a moment of profound significance as a bronze statue honoring Solomon Northup is unveiled on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. on the Avoyelles Courthouse Plaza, 312 North Main Street, Marksville LA 71351.

Titled Hope Out of Darkness, this striking new work will be dedicated at the Solomon Northup Monument Plaza. The installation holds deep historical resonance, standing prominently before the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse in downtown Marksville—on the very ground where the original parish courthouse once stood, and where Solomon Northup regained his freedom on January 4, 1853.

The site also lies beside the Solomon Northup historical marker, placed in 2018 to commemorate the 165th anniversary of his liberation. Just steps away is the location of the former Marksville Post Office on Main Street, where Samuel Bass, the courageous carpenter who befriended Northup, mailed letters that ultimately led to Solomon’s rescue and return to his family.

A special screening of the award-winning film 12 Years a Slave will be presented at the historic Fox Theater on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The Fox Theater is located at 111 S. Washington Street in Marksville.

Tickets may be reserved through Eventbrite; donations are suggested. Additional events will take place around the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse Square on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

Guests are invited to enjoy brunch at La Petite Café from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reservations only (318.528.1300).

A Solomon Northup Monument Tour Exhibit, presented by Reverend James G. Theus, Founder and Vice President, will be on display at the Avoyelles Arts Gallery from noon to 4:00 p.m. Bailey’s on the Square will also host an open house featuring Solomon Northup memorabilia at noon and a reception following the unveiling of the statue concluding at 4:00 p.m.

Solomon Northup, whose extraordinary life story is captured in his 1853 bestseller Twelve Years A Slave, remains an enduring voice in American history. His narrative inspired the acclaimed 1984 film Solomon Northup’s Odyssey and later the Academy Award–winning 2014 motion picture 12 Years a Slave, which brought renewed global attention to his writings and legacy.

Renowned Emmy- and Oscar-winning sculptor Wesley Wofford, FNSS, was selected to craft this bronze tribute. Describing his vision for the piece, Wofford explains, > “As the viewer sees Hope Out of Darkness from a distance, the sculpture emanates an intelligent, free, American citizen, leading the way to a more equitable future with a raised torch. But as one moves closer and experiences the sculpture in the round, the viewer will discover the pathos and tragedy of Solomon Northup’s story.”

Funding for this project was provided through a combination of private contributions, corporate sponsorships, and public support, including grants from Atchafalaya National Heritage Area and Lieutenant Governor’s Office and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.

For additional information, please visit the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works at www.snccw.com.
Event logistics inquiries: jmgoudeau@gmail.com
Media inquiries: mhowell.snccw@gmail.com
Programming inquiries: msgoudeau22@gmail.com