Statue of Christopher Columbus (North End, Boston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Christopher Columbus |
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The statue in 2019
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| Year | 1979 |
| Medium | Marble sculpture |
| Subject | Christopher Columbus |
| Condition | Decapitated and put in storage for undisclosed period. |
| Location | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 42°21′41″N 71°03′04″W / 42.361298°N 71.051188°W | |
A statue of Christopher Columbus was placed in Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in Boston, Massachusetts. This park is located in Boston's North End neighborhood. On June 11, 2020, the statue was taken down. This happened after it was damaged by protestors on the evening of June 9, 2020. It is currently in storage.
Contents
About the Statue's History
Why Was the Statue Put There?
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic group. Many Italian Americans are part of this group. They opened Waterfront Park in 1976. In 1979, a builder named Arthur Stivaletta paid for the statue to be made. The Knights of Columbus then changed the park's name to Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park.
The North End was a neighborhood where many Italian American families lived. Christopher Columbus was a special symbol for Italian Americans across the country. He was seen as a figure of pride for their heritage. As early as 1900, a man named George A. Scigliano worked to make Columbus Day a holiday in Massachusetts.
However, not all Catholics in Boston felt the same way about Columbus. In 1922, an Irish-American leader, Cardinal William Henry O'Connell, removed a Columbus statue from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
What Does the Statue Look Like?
The statue is made from marble. This marble came from Carrara, an old quarry in Italy. The base of the statue has Stivaletta's name on it. It also lists other important Italian Americans from the North End. The names of the Knights of Columbus and the Order Sons of Italy in America are also on the base.
Early Days of the Statue
The statue was officially revealed on Columbus Day in 1979. Many people attended the ceremony. These included Stivaletta, the Italian American community, Mayor Kevin White, and former governor John Volpe.
Later, in November 1979, Stivaletta held a protest in front of the statue. He burned a flag to show his feelings about world events. In December 1981, his group, Wake Up America, burned another flag there. Stivaletta said they were showing support for countries seeking freedom. He felt they were standing before Columbus in a country founded on freedom.
On Columbus Day in 1982, a group called the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park held a Catholic mass at the statue. They also placed a wreath on its base. In 1999, the head of the Massachusetts Historical Society wrote an article. He suggested removing the statue. He said Boston had no real historical link to Columbus. He thought the park should honor its past as a fishing area instead.
Damage and Removal
Incidents of Vandalism
Over the years, the statue was damaged many times. People would spray paint words like "murderer" on it. In June 2006, the statue's head was removed. It was later found in another part of the North End. In 2004 and 2006, red paint was thrown on the statue. After the 2006 event, a group claimed responsibility online. They said they were against colonialism. In 2015, the white marble statue was again covered in red paint. The words "Black Lives Matter" were also written on it.
The Statue is Taken Down
In June 2020, the statue was damaged again when its head was removed. After this, the statue was taken down. Mayor Marty Walsh said the statue would not be put back on display. He stated that the city would "assess the historic meaning of the statue." Its future is not clear, as it has been placed in storage. An Italian American group in Massachusetts also asked for the statue to be removed. They said that "Columbus can't represent us as Italian Americans anymore."
Images for kids
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The statue was installed in Boston's Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
