LeapFrog!

It began with an egg—large, foam, and utterly unexplained—sitting on the steps of the Erie Art Museum in 2004. Members of the Fish Commish kept watch as a crack slowly formed around its shell, drawing curious crowds who wondered what, exactly, was about to hatch. When the top finally lifted, Erie’s next public art adventure emerged: LeapFrog!.

Led by David Seitzinger, the Fish Commission, the Erie Art Museum, and a wide circle of local artists, LeapFrog! introduced two new frog designs that quickly hopped into the city’s imagination. The timing was perfect: it was a leap year, and the project embraced the theme wholeheartedly. One of the first frogs landed outside Gannon’s Old Main, joining the university’s growing collection of community‑created sculptures.

The frogs weren’t built for Erie’s winters—but thanks to local care and affection, many remain and continue to charm everyone who crosses their paths.