WINTER PARK, Fla. — Rollins College on Thursday unveiled a statue honoring beloved children’s TV host Fred Rogers, aka Mister Rogers.

What You Need To Know

  •  Rollins College in Winter Park has unveiled a statue of beloved children's TV host Fred Rogers

  •  The statue, dubbed "A Beautiful Day for a Neighbor" depicts Mister Rogers in his iconic cardigan, surrounded by children

  • Rogers graduated from Rollins College in 1951

​The bronze statue, dubbed “A Beautiful Day for a Neighbor," is located in the campus’s Chapel Garden courtyard, near the Annie Russel Theatre.

At over 7-feet-tall, the statue, designed by British artist Paul Day, depicts Rogers in his iconic cardigan surrounded by a group of children on one side and characters from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” on the other. The statue also features the lyrics to the show’s theme song.

“This inspirational sculpture will be a permanent reminder of the ideals and values modeled by Mister Rogers as he set out to make the world a better place,” Rollins president Grant Cornwell said in a statement. “This tribute will reinforce the quest for empathy, acceptance and kindness so needed in our society today.”  

Rogers, who created and hosted the long-running program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” graduated from Rollins in 1951.

The statue is now part of the college’s Mister Rogers Walking Tour, which features memorabilia celebrating Rogers, including one his cardigans, a pair of his sneakers, and a large portrait.