Statue of Williams Carter Wickham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Williams Carter Wickham |
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The statue c. 1915
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| Artist | Edward Virginius Valentine |
| Year | 1891 |
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| Subject | Williams Carter Wickham |
| Location | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| 37°32′50″N 77°27′04″W / 37.5472°N 77.4510°W | |
The statue of Williams Carter Wickham was once located in Richmond, Virginia. Wickham was a general who fought for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. The statue was created by Edward Virginius Valentine and put up in Monroe Park in 1891. This park is close to the main campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. In June 2020, the statue was pulled down during protests.
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What the Statue Looked Like
The statue was made of bronze and stood on a base made of granite. The bronze part was about 7 feet tall. The granite base was about 10 feet tall.
The statue showed Williams Carter Wickham wearing a uniform from the Confederate army. In one hand, he held a case for his field glasses. In his other hand, he held a pair of gloves behind his back. He used to have a sword, but it was later taken by people who damaged the statue.
Messages on the Base
There were words carved into the front of the statue's base. They said:
WICKHAM
"SOLDIER STATESMAN
"PATRIOT, FRIEND."
PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF RICHMOND BY COMRADES
IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY
AND EMPLOYEES OF THE
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO
RAILWAY COMPANY
This message meant that Wickham was seen as a soldier, a leader, and a friend. It also said that his fellow soldiers from the Confederate army and workers from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company gave the statue to the city of Richmond.
On the back of the base, there was another message:
WILLIAMS CARTER WICKHAM
SEPTEMBER 21ST 1820
JULY 23RD 1888
These dates show when Williams Carter Wickham was born and when he passed away.
History of the Statue
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The statue was put up in 1891. It was a gift from Williams Carter Wickham's fellow soldiers and the people who worked for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
Changes to the Statue
In August 1956, people who damaged the statue stole Wickham's sword.
Calls for Removal
In 2017, two of Wickham's family members, Clayton and Will Wickham, asked the city of Richmond to take the statue down. They wrote a letter to the city council explaining their reasons. They said that as a plantation owner and a general, Wickham gained power and wealth from the work of people who were not free.
Statue Toppled in 2020
Many people in Monroe Park began to object to the statue being there during the 2020 protests. These protests happened after the death of George Floyd. In June 2020, protesters used ropes to pull the statue down.
