Enterprise officials and artist Ken English unveiled Monday a collectible replica of the city's historic Boll Weevil Monument.

The monument, which stands at about 14 inches tall, is the collective result of more than a year of collaboration and hard work.

"There is no better icon in Enterprise than the Boll Weevil Monument," Enterprise Chamber of Commerce president Phil Thomas said. "We have had many requests over the years from individuals, visitors and locals who have said we would love something that we could have to give to our family, to our friends and to guests that really stands out and says Enterprise. We think we have created this."

The monument is symbolic of Enterprise, the "City of Progress," said Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell. "Anywhere else in the world might scoff at the idea of a monument holding a pest, but for our city, the boll weevil represents our foundation. As we continuously see, our citizens take something bad and use it for good. I don't think there is a better message to be preaching."

English said though the project was difficult, he is honored to be a part of making the replica.

"I have worked on both extremes of this project. In 1996 I did a replication of the actual size of the boll weevil, which was actually a little bit easier than this one," he said. "I had to use a magnifying glass at times to get the details right."

English even traveled throughout Alabama, including Auburn University, to study the appearance of boll weevils. None could be found on any cotton bulbs in Coffee County.

"Which is a good thing," Boswell said.

Unquestionably, the insect itself was the most difficult part, English said, to build a small boll weevil to look something like an actual boll weevil.

Enterprise Coffee Geneva Economic Development Corp director Frank Thompson said the boll weevil is known worldwide.

"It is rare that we go anywhere without the people knowing where the Boll Weevil Monument is or that it is associated with Enterprise," he said.

With the replicas now available for purchase for $100, individuals will have a greater opportunity to tell the story of the boll weevil, Thomas said.

"This is something that you can present to special people that come to visit our community. It is something that you can put in your home that really enables you to speak about Enterprise. It is a great conversation piece," he said. "It is the perfect example of what Enterprise is all about. The resiliency. The diversity. It is a great chance to explain why we have a Boll Weevil Monument and talk about those wonderful assets of our community. We are very proud to have it. I think it is a wonderful representation of our monument."

Gov. Robert Bentley was the first to receive a replica monument.

The second, of 100 created, was presented to Alabama Supreme Court Justice James Allen Main.

Ninety-eight first edition monument replicas are available for purchase for $100.

To purchase a statue, call the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce at 347-0581.