Subject | George Washington |
Artist | Pompeo Coppini |
Materials | Bronze, Granite |
Installation Date | 1926 |
Acquisition Context | Commissioned and donated by Dr. Henry Waldo Coe |
Where was it originally located? | German-American Society, intersection of NE 57th Ave and Sandy Blvd (needs new home) |
Was there engagement when it was created? | No |
What happened to it? | The monument was toppled June 18, 2020. It is currently in storage in need of repair. |
Representative feedback from public comments, testimony and City-led public conversations | “The statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson should be put back on their pedestals. Even the US constitution allowed for slavery in their day. And, what George Washington and Thomas Jefferson did to our country quite outweighs the fact they owned slaves.” “My belief is keep the statues of only the legitimate leaders of this country (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson) and remove the illegitimate leaders (confederate leaders) and place them in a museum to be viewed as a historical era piece to be studied. “The purpose of these statues is not to make a statement that these men are saints, but rather to honor their achievements and place in history. I want to briefly touch on Washington. Besides his leadership in the American Revolution and founding our country, Washington was remarkable in his commitment to republicanism. He refused an offer to be King, in the 18th century, in the age of absolute monarchs. This was the same time as Catherine the Great, Frederick the Great, and the height of the French ancien regime (before its demise during the French Revolution). He and the other founders created one of the first democratic bodies since the Roman Senate. True, our democracy was imperfect in the 1790s (and is today). But, Washington laid the groundwork for the steady march toward emancipation and liberty we have seen through 230 years of American history.” |
Status | Will return to the public pending relocation, restoration, repair, and the addition of new interpretive signage. Additional public engagement on interpretations will occur during the 2024 Monuments Symposium. |