At the corner of 23rd Street and The Strand, beside the Old Galveston Square building, stands one of the city’s most distinctive public art pieces - a massive, stylized brass instrument known as The Stone Trumpet. Musicians might recognize it as a cornet rather than a true trumpet. 

 The sculpture was created by renowned Texas artist David Adickes, whose large-scale works include the 35-foot Virtuoso cellist in Houston, the 67-foot Sam Houston statue in Huntsville, and the Heads of the Presidents installation in Houston. 

 Commissioned for the 1984 World’s Fair (also called the Louisiana World Exposition) in New Orleans, the sculpture was designed as part of the stage décor for the fair, which carried the theme “The World of Rivers: Fresh Water as a Source of Life.” 

 Measuring 14 feet tall and 26 feet long, and constructed from steel and concrete, it was a visual centerpiece during performances and presentations. 

 But the fair itself struggled. Despite its ambitious theme and waterfront setting, the 1984 World’s Fair suffered from low attendance and financial losses, ultimately becoming the only world’s fair to declare bankruptcy during its run. After the exposition closed, many of its installations were liquidated - including Adickes’ trumpet sculpture. 

 In 1986, Galveston developer and philanthropist George P. Mitchell acquired the piece during the post-fair sell-off. His real estate firm, Mitchell Historic Properties, brought the sculpture to Galveston to serve as a striking artistic feature for a new jazz-themed restaurant in the Old Galveston Square building. 

 Today, The Stone Trumpet is free to visit, photograph, and admire. Whether you’re a jazz lover, history buff, or simply strolling The Strand, it’s a reminder of Galveston’s commitment to public art.