Statue of Christopher Columbus (New London, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Christopher Columbus |
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| Subject | Christopher Columbus |
| Location | New London, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 41°21′02″N 72°06′04″W / 41.35046°N 72.100998°W | |
The Christopher Columbus statue in New London, Connecticut was a marble sculpture. It stood in the city from 1928 until 2020. In June 2020, the New London City Council decided to take the statue off public land.
About the Statue's History
How the Statue Came to Be
The statue was a gift to New London from Italian-Americans. It was first shown to the public on Columbus Day, October 12, 1928. The statue was made of marble by an Italian artist named Armand Battelli. It cost about $7000 to create. The statue was very tall, standing nine feet, six inches high.
Why the Statue Was Removed
In 2017, some local people wanted to protect the statue. They worked to keep it from being removed. But by June 2020, more than 6000 people signed a paper asking for the statue to be taken down. The statue became a big topic in the news.
The city council of New London voted to remove the statue. This meant it could no longer be on public land. New London's mayor, Michael Passero, said the statue had become a "lightning rod for civil discontent." This means it caused a lot of public disagreement. The statue was removed on June 16, 2020, because the city council ordered it.
