Longview Public Sculpture: 920 Tower Rescue

The City of Longview, Texas is calling on artists to design a permanent outdoor sculpture commemorating the dramatic 920 Tower Rescue. On February 28, 2026, two people in a hot air balloon crashed into a cell phone tower near Highway 300 in Longview and were stuck 920 feet in the air for several hours until the Longview Fire Department safely removed them, facing complications from strong winds and high elevation.

The Office of Cultural Arts has released a Request for Proposals and Call for Artists for the installation. To capture the Fire Department's spirit of service, the sculpture must celebrate the crew's heroic efforts through specific figurative elements: the design should feature the cell phone tower with three firefighters represented atop the structure, along with ropes and hands to commemorate the rescue. To keep the focus on the firefighters, the sculpture must not depict or incorporate the hot air balloon.

Because it will be permanently placed outdoors on City of Longview property, preference will be given to durable materials such as bronze, copper, or other long-lasting metals. The total budget allocated is up to $25,000, which includes all costs and fees: the artist's fees, materials, location preparation, equipment, installation, and a $1,000,000 liability insurance policy naming the city as an additional insured. The City of Longview will assume full ownership of the sculpture after completion.