Statue of George Washington (Portland, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of George Washington |
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The statue in 2015
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| Artist | Pompeo Coppini |
| Year | 1926–1927 |
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| Subject | George Washington |
| Dimensions | 2.4 m × 1.2 m × 1.2 m (8 ft × 4 ft × 4 ft) |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| 45°32′32″N 122°36′18″W / 45.542235°N 122.605054°W | |
| Owner | City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council |
The Statue of George Washington was a bronze sculpture located in Portland, Oregon. It was made by an Italian American artist named Pompeo Coppini between 1926 and 1927. This statue was one of three that Coppini made of George Washington, who was the first president of the United States.
The Portland statue was created to celebrate 150 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. It was officially presented in 1927. The statue was part of the public art collection for the City of Portland and Multnomah County. In June 2020, the statue was pulled down during protests.
Contents
What Did the Statue Look Like?
The statue was placed in a neighborhood called Rose City Park in Portland, Oregon. It stood outside the German American Society building.
The statue showed George Washington standing up. He held a walking stick in his right hand. His coat and hat were tucked under his left arm, and his left hand was on his hip.
The statue itself was made of bronze and was about 95 inches (about 8 feet) tall. It stood on a base made of granite, which was also about 95 inches tall.
On the front of the base, it said: "GEORGE WASHINGTON / PRESENTED TO / THE CITY OF PORTLAND / BY / HENRY WALDO COE / 1927". The back of the base also mentioned it was a "GIFT FROM DR. HENRY WALDO COE 1926". The sides of the base showed the artist's name, "P. COPPINI SC", and the company that made the bronze casting, "CAST BY ROMAN BRONZE WORKS N.Y.".
The Story of the Statue
How It Was Created
Artist Pompeo Coppini made the Portland statue in his studio in New York in 1926. It was then cast, or shaped, by a company called Roman Bronze Works.
The statue was a gift from a person named Henry Waldo Coe. He paid for several statues to be made for the City of Portland. These included statues of Theodore Roosevelt, Rough Rider (1922), Joan of Arc, and Abraham Lincoln (1928). The statues of Washington and Lincoln were officially presented after Henry Waldo Coe passed away in February 1927. The money for the statue's base came from the George Washington Memorial Association.
When It Was Unveiled
The statue was officially presented to the public on July 4, 1927. This date is also America's Independence Day. Reverend Youngson presented the statue on behalf of the Coe family.
Later Years and Removal
In 1993, the statue was checked as part of a program called "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" It was still part of the City of Portland's public art collection.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, someone placed a face mask on the statue.
On the night of June 18, 2020, the statue was pulled down by protesters. This happened because of George Washington's historical connection to slavery.
