Statue of Christopher Columbus (Philadelphia) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Statue of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus Monument and Railing Sculpture of Nina Pinta and Santa Maria in Marconi Plaza
Subject	Christopher Columbus
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

A statue of Christopher Columbus stands in Marconi Plaza. This park is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The statue is surrounded by a fence. This fence has wire art showing the ships Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. A sculptor named Emanuele Caroni created the statue in 1876.

About the Columbus Statue

The Christopher Columbus Monument was first put up for the Centennial Exposition in 1876. This big event celebrated 100 years of America's independence. The statue was a gift from Italy to America. It was dedicated on October 12, 1876.

The entire monument cost $18,000. It is made from Italian Ravazzoni marble. The whole monument stands 22 feet (about 6.7 meters) tall. The statue of Columbus itself is 10 feet (about 3 meters) high. The base it stands on is 12 feet (about 3.6 meters) tall. The base is 7 feet (about 2.1 meters) long and 6 feet (about 1.8 meters) wide. The statue weighs about 70,000 pounds (about 31,750 kg).

The statue shows Columbus dressed in clothes from his time. He stands on a ship's deck. Near his feet, you can see an anchor, ropes, and a sailor's bag. His right hand rests on a globe, which is 15 inches (about 38 cm) across. The globe shows the "New World" on its front. His left hand holds a map of what was once an unknown sea. Columbus's head is bare. His face looks like the famous bust of him in Genoa, Italy.

On the front of the statue's base, it says: "Presented to the city of Philadelphia by the Italian Societies." Below this is a picture showing Columbus landing in America. On the other side of the base, it says: "Dedicated October 12, 1876, by the Christopher Columbus Monument Association, on the Anniversary of the Landing of Columbus, October 12, 1492." Underneath, you can see the coat of arms from Genoa. It also says: "In commemoration of the First Century of American Independence." The other two sides of the base show the coats of arms for Italy and the United States.

Antonio Isoleri helped get this statue built. He was a pastor at the first Italian church in the United States. This church was called St. Mary Magdalen dePazzi. Isoleri wanted Italians in America to feel united. He used Christopher Columbus as a hero to bring people together. Columbus was a shared figure who made people proud of their Italian heritage.

Recent Events and the Statue

Boxed statue of Christopher Columbus (Philadelphia, June 2020)

In August 2020, the Philadelphia Art Commission decided the statue should be moved. They ordered it to be taken from Marconi Plaza. It was to be put into temporary storage. This decision came after the Philadelphia Historical Commission agreed to remove the statue. They said it was for public safety. They also worried the statue could be damaged during the George Floyd protests.

Later, a judge stopped the order to remove the statue. A legal fight about the statue is still happening in the courts. To protect the statue while the decision is made, the City of Philadelphia had it covered up in a box.

Images for kids

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  Statue in December 2012