How tall is the original bird girl statue?

Ever Wonder How Tall the Real “Bird Girl” Statue Is?

Okay, so you’ve probably seen the “Bird Girl” statue, right? Maybe even on the cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – that book practically made it famous! But have you ever stopped to think, “Hmm, I wonder how tall that thing actually is?” Well, let’s get right to it.

The original “Bird Girl,” sculpted in bronze by Sylvia Shaw Judson way back in 1936, stands at a modest 50 inches. Break out your measuring tape, that’s 4 feet 2 inches! Not exactly towering, but definitely striking. I remember the first time I saw a picture of it; there’s just something so peaceful and innocent about her.

She’s depicted as a young girl, pretty simply dressed, with her head tilted just so, holding these two bowls out in her hands. Now, those aren’t just any bowls; they were meant to be filled with food or water for birds. Sweet, right? It really adds to that whole serene vibe the statue gives off.

Fun fact: the model for the statue was a real girl named Lorraine Greenman, who’s now Lorraine Ganz. She was just eight years old when she posed! Judson initially envisioned “Bird Girl” as a garden ornament, and a few bronze versions were cast from her original plaster model.

The most well-known of these ended up in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, thanks to a local family. And that’s where photographer Jack Leigh snapped the photo – the one that landed on the cover of Berendt’s book. Talk about hitting the jackpot!

But here’s a little behind-the-scenes scoop: after the book came out, the statue became too popular. Seriously, people were flocking to see it, and the family got worried about its safety. So, in ’97, they decided to move it out of the cemetery. Smart move, if you ask me.

Now, if you want to see the real deal, you’ll have to head to the Telfair Museums in Savannah. As of 2025, she’s got her own special exhibit at the Telfair Academy. Definitely worth a visit if you’re ever in the area!

And if you can’t make it to Savannah, don’t despair! You can actually buy authorized fiberglass replicas. They might not be the original bronze, but hey, it’s a way to bring a little “Bird Girl” magic into your own garden. Just keep in mind they might not be the exact same size or material as the original, but they still capture the essence of this beloved statue.