Statue of Christopher Columbus (New Haven, Connecticut)

A statue of Christopher Columbus was installed in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.

Statue of Christopher Columbus
The statue in 2018
Map
SubjectChristopher Columbus
LocationNew Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Coordinates41°18′14″N 72°55′05″W / 41.303992°N 72.918006°W / 41.303992; -72.918006

History

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The statue was fabricated from heavy sheet copper by W. H. Mullins of Salem, Ohio in 1892.[1][2] The gift of Italian-Americans, the statue was installed in 1892 in Wooster Square.[3][4] An October 12, 1892 article in the New Haven Register described the time capsule that was placed under the statue: "The corner stone will hold a metallic box containing a number of coins and papers enclosed in a leathery case. There will be a written account of the proceedings of the day, together with a number of American, Italian, and Spanish coins.”[5]

In 1955, the original copper statue, which had deteriorated over time,[6] was recast in bronze.[7][8]

Vandalism and removal

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In 2017, the statue was vandalized prior to Columbus Day, with red paint splashed on the statue and the words "kill the colonizer" spray-painted along its base.[9][10]

The statue was removed on June 24, 2020.[11][12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ “A Statue of Columbus to Be Erected in This City,” New Haven Evening Register, April 21, 1892
  2. ^ "Building Age". David Willaims Company. June 29, 1892 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Crofut, Florence S. Marcy (June 29, 1937). "Guide to the History and the Historic Sites of Connecticut". Yale University Press – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Sterba, Christopher M. (March 27, 2003). Good Americans: Italian and Jewish Immigrants During the First World War. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195348231 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "History May Lie Under Columbus Pedestal | New Haven Independent". www.newhavenindependent.org. June 26, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "CultureNOW - Christopher Columbus Monument: Roman Bronze Works Inc. and City of New Haven Public Art". culturenow.org. Archived from the original on 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  7. ^ "New Haven Columbus statue reviled by many was symbol of pride for others". CTInsider.com. June 28, 2020. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Macaluso, Laura A. (April 12, 2018). The Public Artscape of New Haven: Themes in the Creation of a City Image. McFarland. ISBN 9781476632582 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "New Haven Columbus statue vandalized". yaledailynews.com. 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Christopher Columbus statue vandalized in New Haven". October 8, 2017. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  11. ^ Owens, David (16 June 2020). "Hartford and New Haven will remove statues honoring Christopher Columbus". courant.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  12. ^ "New Haven Takes Down Christopher Columbus Statue in Wooster Square". 24 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-06-29.