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Statue of Christopher Columbus (Baltimore)

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Coordinates: 39°17′07″N 76°36′13″W / 39.28536°N 76.60372°W / 39.28536; -76.60372
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Christopher Columbus
Columbus Piazza in April 2015
Map
ArtistMauro Bigarani
Completion date8 October 1984 (1984-10-08)
MediumMarble sculpture
SubjectChristopher Columbus
Dimensions4.2 m (14 ft)
ConditionDestroyed, dumped in the Inner Harbor
LocationEastern Avenue & President Street
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Coordinates39°17′07″N 76°36′13″W / 39.28536°N 76.60372°W / 39.28536; -76.60372
OwnerCity of Baltimore

The Christopher Columbus Monument was a marble statue of the explorer Christopher Columbus in the Little Italy neighborhood of Downtown Baltimore, Maryland. The monument was brought down by protesters and dumped into the Inner Harbor on July 4, 2020, one of numerous monuments removed during the George Floyd protests.[1] The statue is being reproduced by the Knights of Columbus.

Description

The marble sculpture depicted Christopher Columbus. The memorial included a marble base featuring the three ships of the Columbus fleet: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María.[2] It bore the inscription "Discoverer of America."[3]

History

The Christopher Columbus Monument was the newest of Baltimore's three monuments dedicated to the explorer Christopher Columbus. Located in Columbus Piazza, the sculpture was designed by Mauro Bigarani and was commissioned by donations from the Italian American Organization United of Maryland and the Italian American community of Baltimore.[2] The statue was unveiled by then-Mayor William Donald Schaefer and President Ronald Reagan in October 1984.[4]

Vandalism and destruction

On Independence Day 2020, a group of protestors gathered at the piazza to remove the statue by lassoing the top of the monument, according to footage of the event.[5] The monument subsequently fell to the ground and broke into fragments. The protesters continued by rolling the body of the statue into the Jones Falls canal of the Baltimore Harbor.[6]

The event came days before a warning made by the organization known as the Baltimore BLOC that the group would be destroying the monument if the city did not take upon the action themselves.[7] Afterwards, Baltimore BLOC celebrated and applauded their "kinfolk" involved in the statue's destruction.[8]

During the days leading up to the statue's demise, former State Senator John Pica attempted to raise funds for the statue's relocation, which was estimated to be approximately $100,000.[9] On June 26, 2020, supporters of the monument, including state delegates Nino Mangione and Kathy Szeliga as well as state senator Johnny Salling, gathered to promote keeping the monument as it stands.[10]

As with many of the recent monument removals across America, reactions were mixed. Governor Larry Hogan denounced the vandalism and instead encouraged having a "constructive dialogue" regarding monument removal.[11] Mayor Jack Young commented that the statue's destruction was "part of a national and global reexamination over monuments".[12]

Future

The statue was fished out of the river by the Knights of Columbus. The statue had broken into 12 pieces and it was determined to be unsalvageable, however the Knights of Columbus stated they would reproduce the statue.[13] In October it was revealed that the statue mold was being produced. It was estimated to cost $80–85,000, and that they had raised nearly half the funds at that point. It will not return to its original spot.[14] In November the National Endowment for the Humanities announced that they would give $30,000 to the Knights of Columbus to help assist with the recreation of the statue, along with three others.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Video: Baltimore Protesters Tear Down Christopher Columbus Statue, Throw It Into Harbor". Jul 4, 2020. Retrieved Jul 5, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Kelly, Cindy (Jun 10, 2011). Outdoor Sculpture in Baltimore: A Historical Guide to Public Art in the Monumental City. JHU Press. ISBN 9780801897221. Retrieved Jul 5, 2020 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Cassie, Ron (June 29, 2020). "Italian-American Activists Demand Protection for Columbus Statues". Baltimore.
  4. ^ Matz, Ron (October 3, 2014). "Little Italy Welcomes The 124th Annual Christopher Columbus Celebration This Sunday". CBS Baltimore.
  5. ^ Associated Press (Jul 5, 2020). "The week ahead: What you need to know". Retrieved Jul 5, 2020 – via www.wbaltv.com.
  6. ^ Allassan, Fadel (5 July 2020). "Protesters toss Columbus statue into Baltimore's Inner Harbor". Axios. Retrieved Jul 5, 2020.
  7. ^ @BmoreBloc (21 June 2020). "we don't think these Columbus monuments have much time left anymore, @mayorbcyoung 72 hours sounds like plenty of t…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ @BmoreBloc (5 July 2020). "we salute our kinfolk who toppled and deported the columbus monument last night, and we reaffirm the demands that t…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Supporters want to move Little Italy's Columbus statue before activists tear it down".
  10. ^ "Defenders warn critics of Baltimore's Columbus statue: "Stay the hell away from it"".
  11. ^ Wood, Pamela. "From horror to glee, demise of Baltimore's Christopher Columbus statue stirs emotions". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved Jul 5, 2020.
  12. ^ "Columbus Statue Toppled by Baltimore Protesters". Retrieved Jul 5, 2020.
  13. ^ "Knights of Columbus pick Christopher Columbus statue from Baltimore's Inner Harbor, plan to reproduce monument". The Dialog. Catholic News Service. 21 July 2020.
  14. ^ Orman, Shelley (12 October 2020). "Work Underway To Rebuild Baltimore Columbus Statue, Will Not Go Back in Little Italy". Fox 5 News.
  15. ^ Bishara, Hakim. "National Endowment for the Humanities Allocated $120K to Restore and Build Monuments". National Endowment for the Humanities.
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