J. E. B. Stuart Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids J. E. B. Stuart Monument |
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The equestrian statue in 2009
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| Artist | Frederick Moynihan |
| Year | 1907 |
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| Subject | J. E. B. Stuart |
| Condition | Statue removed from pedestal |
| Location | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| 37°33′09″N 77°27′28″W / 37.552444°N 77.457778°W | |
The J. E. B. Stuart Monument was a large statue in Richmond, Virginia. It honored J. E. B. Stuart, a general from the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. The statue was put up in 1907 on Monument Avenue. For 113 years, it showed General Stuart riding a horse. But on July 7, 2020, the statue was taken down. Now, only its empty stone base remains. This happened because of big protests across the country.
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What the Monument Looked Like
The J. E. B. Stuart Monument used to have a bronze statue of General Stuart on horseback. It stood on a tall granite base. This monument was placed in a round traffic area called Stuart Circle. This circle is at the end of West Franklin Street and where it meets North Lombardy Street. It was also at the start of the famous Monument Avenue.
History of the Statue
Building the Statue
The statue was made by an artist named Frederick Moynihan from New York. It was the second statue to be put up on Monument Avenue in 1907. The idea for this statue came from another statue in India.
The statue showed General Stuart turned in his saddle, looking east. His horse faced north. The horse had one hoof lifted. This might have been an artistic choice. However, a local story says it meant Stuart was hurt in his last battle. If a horse statue has two hooves lifted, it usually means the rider died in battle. Stuart was wounded but died a few days later.
People started talking about a statue for Stuart as early as 1875. But the contest to choose an artist did not happen until 1903. The spot for the statue was chosen in 1904. At the same time, plans were made for a third monument to Jefferson Davis.
Unveiling the Monuments
The unveiling of the Stuart statue and the Jefferson Davis statue happened at the same time. Many people came to see them. Crowds were estimated to be between 80,000 and 200,000 people. About 18,000 war veterans also attended. They even camped out for a week to be there.
Removal of the Statue
In 2020, after events that led to widespread protests about fairness and equality, the Confederate monuments on Monument Avenue were looked at again. The state law about removing war memorials was changed. Then, Governor Ralph Northam announced that the Robert E. Lee Monument would be taken down. That statue was on state land.
On June 3, 2020, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced a plan. He said the J. E. B. Stuart Monument and three other Confederate statues would be removed. These statues were on city land. The Stuart statue was taken off its stone base on July 7, 2020. The statue is now in storage. Its future location or what will happen to it will be decided later.
