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The Discovery of America

Item

Title
The Discovery of America
Description
Sculpture group depicts Columbus attired in a suit of armor striding boldly forward holding a globe above him as a nude Native American woman shrinks back in terror. made of Seravezza marble, its deterioration was so severe by 1958 it was placed in storage. The American Indian Advocacy successfully advocated for the removal of the item from future renovation plans.
Coordinates
United States Capitol, Washington, DC 20004
Location
United States Capitol, Washington, DC
Note
Removed initially for restoration, protests in the 1950s from the indigenous community led to its permanent removal.
Abstract
The Discovery of America, located at the U.S. Capitol, was a sculpture by E. Luigi Persico (1844) depicting Columbus with a globe and a nude Native American woman. Dismantled for restoration in 1958, it was ultimately permanently removed due to the efforts of the American Indian Advocacy group.
Creator
E. Luigi Persico|89
Date
1844/05/17
Medium
Seravezza Marble
Date Modified
1958
Subject
Christopher Columbus|America
Item sets
Memory Sites