George Washington - Columbia, SC
N 34° 00.050 W 081° 01.994
17S E 496931 N 3762248
Located on the front steps of the courthouse, damaged by Union Troops during the Civil War.
Waymark Code: WM9M79
Location: South Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 09/02/2010
Views: 9
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Inscription: fait Par Houdon francais 1788 W. J. Hubard's Foundry, Richmond, Virginia, 1858 (sic) (Left bottom:) futied P.M. Gunthermann (On front of plinth:) GEORGE WASHINGTON (On plaque on front of base:) DURING THE OCCUPATION OF/COLUMBIA BY SHERMAN'S ARMY/FEBRUARY 17-19, 1865/SOLDIERS BRICKBATTED THIS/STATUE AND BROKE OFF THE/LOWER PART OF THE/WALKING CANE signed Founder's mark appears.
Description: Standing figure of George Washington in Revolutionary War uniform with boots. His proper right hand holds a cane, the bottom half of which is broken off. His proper left hand rests almost at shoulder height on top of a fluted column. Figure is atop a tiered base.
Remarks: This is a replica of an original marble statue made by Houdon. In 1853 the Virginia legislature had W. J. Hubard Foundry cast six copies in bronze. South Carolina purchased this one in 1858 for $10,000. Originally installed inside the state house, the figure was moved in 1884 to a spot in the northeast corner of the state house grounds. In 1907 the figure was moved to its present location at base of steps on the north side of the state house. IAS files contain copies of newspaper articles from the Columbia Record, Jan. 26, 1961; and News and Courier (Charleston, SC), April 21, 1940. For related books see: Fant's "The State House of South Carolina."
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