courtesy National Harbor

From a press release:

“When National Harbor opened 16 years ago, developer Milt Peterson was committed to making art accessible. He wanted the destination to have a collection that was engaging to visitors of all ages. Therefore, when the late founder and chairman of Peterson Companies, developer of National Harbor was alerted that J. Seward John’s “The Awakening” was placed up for sale, he seized the opportunity to purchase. The 5-piece, 72-foot cast aluminum sculpture depicts a distressed giant emerging from the earth and currently sits in the sand on the waterfront at National Harbor (153 National Plaza).

After being in Metro Washington D.C., Peterson wanted to keep the beloved piece local and purchased it for $740,000. In February 2008, months before National Harbor’s opening, “The Awakening” was moved from Hains Point to National Harbor. Read More

Photo by James0806

From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today kicked off Black History Month by reintroducing her bill that would remove the Emancipation Statue from Lincoln Park in the District of Columbia, a federal park, citing its problematic depiction of the fight to achieve emancipation. The statue would be placed in a museum with an explanation of its origin and meaning. Read More

Thanks to Emily for passing on from Craigslist:

“Pandamania Garden Statue – $500 (Vienna)

Own a Piece of Washington DC Art History. Read More

1800 Connecticut Ave, NW

Update from an email:

“I’m passing along owner Aaron McGovern’s statement regarding the Sakharov Sculpture (which is safe and sound in storage):

“At this point we’ve been forced to protect our property, our building, and our residents from the continued hate crimes against us. Read More

Update from an email:

I’m passing along owner Aaron McGovern’s statement regarding the Sakharov Sculpture (which is safe and sound in storage):

“At this point we’ve been forced to protect our property, our building, and our residents from the continued hate crimes against us. To date we’ve experienced nearly 20K in property damage and an undetermined financial loss of business because of these circumstances. Russia House’s future is uncertain and we still have faith that it will one day provide DC with another 20 years of amazing experiences.” – Aaron McGovern

Thanks to all who messaged me on Friday which was also April Fool’s Day so I needed to see this with my own eyes to confirm. And indeed my Sakharov Sculpture, our Sakharov Sculpture is gone. I have been using a photo of this bust to illustrate various posts here for over 10 years. There are no words. What best captures how I’m feeling right now is: Read More

Thanks to Michele Banks for sending from Georgetown.

So many more great ones: Read More

From an email:

“On Monday, October 12th between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, Arm in Arm DC organizers will host an action to protest both the current Union Station redesign plan and the continued recognition of Christopher Columbus through the name Columbus Circle and the Columbus statue outside of the station. We will also be conducting a voter registration drive during the protest.”

Full press release: Read More

Thanks to Randall for sending: “I don’t know when it was removed, but they did a very good job of hiding the evidence.” The Society of the Cincinnati’s website says:

“The Society of the Cincinnati is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. Read More

Photo by Perri Smith

Perri reports last night from Lincoln Park:

“Protesters trying to pull down a statue of Lincoln with an enslaved person at his feet in Capitol Hill”

The designers of the Emancipation Statue in Lincoln Park in DC didn’t take into account the views of African Americans. It shows. Blacks too fought to end enslavement. That’s why I’m introducing a bill to move this statue to a museum. pic.twitter.com/A0MOnISH1N

— Eleanor Holmes Norton (@EleanorNorton) June 23, 2020

Sign says: “This statue honors Major George B. McClellan, a decorated UNION Army officer.”

Thanks to Jonathan for sending: “It seems someone took the liberty of making these signs and putting many of them around the McClellan statue on Connecticut and Columbia NW. Not quite NPS official signage…”

From Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that she will introduce legislation to remove the Andrew Jackson statue from Lafayette Park in the District of Columbia, citing Jackson’s ownership of slaves and genocide of Native Americans. Read More