A bronze sculpture of Sojourner Truth, a woman who traveled the underground railroad and fought for equality and humane treatment for slaves, women and the poor, is a famous monument in Battle Creek's Monument Park. The 12 feet high statue erected in 1999 was the third monument placed in the park to reflect Battle Creek's history. She was inducted into Michigan's Women's Hall of Fame in 1983 after finishing her life in Battle Creek, where she lived for 26 years. The monument was built by sculptor Tina Allen.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation commissioned sculptor Ed Dwight to create a sculpture honoring operators and users of the underground railroad that safely transported slaves from the south to areas in the northern United States. The bronze statue features Harriet Tubman with Battle Creek residents Erastus and Sarah Hussey leading runaway slaves through the underground railroad. The sculpture is 14 feet high and 28 feet long, making it the largest underground railroad monument in the nation. The underground railroad sculpture was installed in 1994 near the historic Kellogg house in downtown Battle Creek.
One of Battle Creek's earliest sculptures was erected in honor of cereal magnate C.W. Post in 1917. He was a patient at Battle Creek Sanitarium in 1891. The sanitarium developed diet and therapy programs for people wanting a healthy way to live. The flaked cereal and cereal beverages the patients ate caught Post's interest and led him to develop and manufacture similar foods. After making his fortune, he developed the city of Battle Creek, providing inexpensive homes for his employees and then building the downtown district.
Battle Creek is known for hosting a yearly holiday festival of lights during December that features ice sculpturing events by local artists. Though they don't last long, Michigan's cold weather can keep the sculptures standing in good condition for a few months if there's no warm spell. The ice sculptures stand in Mill Race Park in downtown Battle Creek.
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport has a collection of papier mache sculptures by former Michigan sculptor Stephen Hansen. After living and showcasing his sculptures in Michigan, Hansen moved to New Mexico, returning to install seven papier mache sculptures in the newly renovated airport terminal that opened in April 2011.