This sculpture depicts Alice, from Lewis Carroll´s 1865 classic Alice´s Adventures in Wonderland. The statue is located on East 74th street on the north side of Central Park´s Conservatory Water. Alice is pictured sitting on a giant mushroom, reaching toward a pocket watch held by the March Hare, host of the book´s tea party. Peering over her shoulder is the Cheshire cat, flanked one one side by the dormouse, and on the other by Mad Hatter, who in contrast to the calm Alice looks ready to laugh out loud at any moment.

Publisher and philanthropist George T. Delacorte Jr. ordered the sculpture from José de Creeft, in honor of Delacorte´s late wife, Margarita, and to the enjoyment of the children of New York. Unveiled in 1959, de Creeft´s sculpture tries to follow John Tenniel´s whimsical Victorian illustrations from the first edition of the book. According to various sources, Alice is said to look like de Creeft´s daughter Donna. The Alice in Wonderland project´s architects and designers were Hideo Sasaki and Fernando Texidor, who inserted some plaques with inscriptions from the book in the terrace around the sculpture. Margarita´s favorite poem, "The Jabberwocky" is also included; chiseled in a granite circle surrounding the sculpture:

"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe"

The design of the sculpture attracts many children who want to climb its many levels, resulting in the bronze´s glowing patina, polished by thousands of tiny hands over the years since the sculpture was unveiled.

Sources, related links:
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation - ALICE IN WONDERLAND MONUMENT
Wikipedia - Alice´s Adventures in Wonderland
Wikipedia - List of sculptures in Central Park
Central Park - the official web site
Wikipedia - Central Park