History of Columbus Statue — Designed By Statue of Liberty Sculptor, Cast by Gorham, Columbian Ties

History of Columbus Statue — Designed By Statue of Liberty Sculptor, Cast by Gorham, Columbian Ties

The recently vandalized statue of Christopher Columbus in Providence has a legacy that may be as transient and rich as the explorer himself.

The sculpture was created by Auguste Bartholdi —the Frenchman who sculpted the Statue of Liberty.

The sculpture was cast in 1893 — by the Gorham Manufacturing Company, which had commissioned master sculptor Bartholdi.

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The Providence-based bronze cast statue is a cast of the original sterling silver statue commissioned for the 1892 Columbian Exposition of the World's Fair held in Chicago, Illinois. “For the upcoming exposition, Gorham wanted a demonstration piece to show the skill of its foundry and commissioned Bartholdi to create a statue of Columbus,” according to the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s Office.

According to its history, “The completed model was shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to be cast from 30,000 ounces of silver at Providence, Rhode Island. The casting was a ceremonial affair, where guests were they ‘were feted as they watched the process.’ Gorham officials accompanied and shipped the statue to Chicago via rail. It served as a demonstration piece at the exposition, showcasing the skill of its foundry in a technically difficult to execute sterling silver cast that was also the work of a well-known sculptor. After the exposition, the statue was returned to Providence where it was melted down, the sterling silver statue was impractical as a permanent outdoor sculpture and the piece had already served its celebratory and advertisement purpose.”

For the past few years, the sculpture has been vandalized by those condemning the legacy of Columbus. SEE PHOTOS BELOW

"In 1893, a bronze Columbus was cast by the Gorham company and gifted to the City of Providence by the Elmwood Association, a civic group from a neighborhood near Gorham. It is known that Bartholdi visited Newport, Rhode Island in 1893, but it is unknown if he was involved in the production of the bronze cast. The statue was dedicated on November 8, 1893. According to New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Professor Alonzo Williams was the orator for the dedication of the statue. The site of the statue was originally deeded to the Town of Cranston by Joseph Cooke on May 24, 1824. The Town of Cranston deeded it to Providence in 1868 and renamed it Columbus Park in 1893," writes the Secretary of State's office.