The statue located at the Brickell Avenue Bridge over the Miami River is a 53-foot bronze monument known as the “Pillar of History,” which was commissioned by the Florida Department of Transportation and created by Cuban sculptor Manuel Carbonell in 1995 (Wikipedia). The bridge itself is a bascule bridge that carries US Route 1 (Brickell Avenue) and was originally built in 1915, later replaced in 1995 (Flickr).

Atop the towering Pillar of History column sits a 17-foot bronze statue by the Cuban-born sculptor Manuel Carbonell. This statue depicts a Tequesta warrior and his family, symbolizing the Tequesta Indian warrior archer and family (Lonely Planet, Alamy). The sculpture is called “Tequesta Family” and is a bas-relief that illustrates the significant cultural heritage of the Tequesta tribe, which were the original inhabitants of the Miami area (Pinterest).

The “Pillar of History” is carved with scenes that pay tribute to the history of the area, and the statue of the American Indian on the bridge serves as a connection between the Brickell financial district and Downtown Miami (Cityseeker). This landmark honors the legacy and the spirit of the indigenous people who lived in the region before the arrival of European settlers.