Equestrian statue of Caesar Rodney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Caesar Rodney |
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The statue in 2016
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| Artist | James E. Kelly |
| Year | 1923 |
| Subject | Caesar Rodney |
| Location | Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| 39°44′45″N 75°32′50″W / 39.74595°N 75.54730°W | |
A statue of Caesar Rodney is installed in Wilmington, Delaware, United States. The statue was erected in Rodney Square in downtown Wilmington on July 4, 1923. It was designed by New York sculptor James Edward Kelly. The Gorham Company in Rhode Island cast the statue and its two bronze plaques. The memorial was removed in June 2020. Its current location, preservation status, and plans for future display are currently unclear, and its removal has generated controversy.
Description
Bronze plaques are affixed to the northwest and southeast sides of the statue's pedestal. One depicts Thomas McKean greeting Rodney in Philadelphia; the other, Rodney casting the deciding vote in favor of American independence. On top of the pedestal Rodney sits astride his horse, which is in full gallop with its front feet in the air, the majority of the statue's weight on the horse's hind legs. To balance the statue, Kelly heavily weighted the horse's tail and positioned Rodney upright and toward the rear of the horse.
History
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Funds for the statue were raised by the Caesar Rodney Equestrian Statue Executive Committee to commemorate the ride of Rodney from Kent County, Delaware to Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 1 and 2, 1776.
It was removed from public display on June 12, 2020 along with the statue of Christopher Columbus in Wilmington, Delaware in the wake of the protests of the death of George Floyd.
Images for kids
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Pedestal after the statue was removed for safe keeping
