Rock Hill, South Carolina - Civitas & The Gateway

Civitas & The Gateway

The symbols of the city are the four Civitas statues, erected in 1991 at the Gateway corridor on Dave Lyle Boulevard. Each holds a disc that symbolizes the four drivers of the economy in the city (Gears of Industry, Flames of Knowledge, Stars of Inspiration, and Bolts of Energy). The Civitas statues are 22-foot-tall (6.7 m) structures made of bronze and created by the New York sculptor Audrey Flack. These were originally planned to be placed in Uptown Charlotte, but were offered to the city of Rock Hill. The Civitas complex was designed as a female version of Michelangelo’s David. The sculptor was inspired by the similarities in history between the cities of Rock Hill and Florence, Italy.

At the time of the commission of David, Florence was a city of 45,000 people whose once vibrant textile industry was slowly fading; the competition from their much larger neighbor Rome was affecting Florence’s growth. Rock Hill’s size and textile history was similar to Florence's when the Civitas was created. The sculpture reflects the spirit of Rock Hill’s textile heritage in the clothing and hair, which suggest billowing ribbons of material. That material transforms into wings, representing the textile history as the foundation to give wings to the city for growth. In 1992, a fifth Civitas statue by Flack was placed at City Hall in downtown Rock Hill.

The Gateway intersection where the four Civitas statues stand is circular to symbolize unity, teamwork and togetherness. The columns that stand beside the Civitas were a gift to the city from First Union Corporation, and are regarded as one of the area’s most treasured historical artifacts. They represent Rock Hill’s commitment to preserve and enhance the history of the city.