Located on the north East corner of Union and Abriendo Aves., a 15-foot stone (limestone) shaft supporting a bronze bust of the discoverer of America, was designed by Pietro Piai, New York sculptor, and dedicated by Italian citizens on Oct. 12, 1905
Bust of Christopher Columbus wears a three-cornered hat and vest-like clothing. It sits atop an ornate pedestal and tiered base. The two hemispheres of the Earth protrude from each side of the pedestal at the bottom; the western hemisphere is on the south side, and the eastern hemisphere is on the north side. There is a crest affixed to the front of the pedestal. The crest includes an eagle with outstretched wings perched on a shield with a cross, flanked by Italian and American flags. Below the shield are two joined hands, and the whole is enveloped in a semi-circular laurel wreath.
In 1905, the Italian-American community in Pueblo, Colorado held the states first Columbus Day parade, and in 1907, Colorado was the first state in the union to make the Columbus Day holiday official.
Front side:
A
CRISTOFO COLOMBO
IL XII OTTOBRE MCMV
AUGURANDO CHE PRIMO TRA I GLORIOSI
RICORDI IL MONDE IL GIORNO MEMORANDO.
Coat of arms, and lower, later an inscription was added:
IN MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
WITH THE HOPE THAT THE GLORIOUS
DATE OF OCTOBER 12, 1492
MAY BE REMEMBERED IN THE WORLD
Back side:
GL'ITALIANI D'AMERICA
ERESSERO
AUSPICE
LA FEDERAZIONE COLOMBIANA
DELLE SOCIETA ITALIANE NEGLI S.U.
INIZIATRICE
LA LOGGIA FEDERATA C. COLOMBO
PUEBLO COLO.
On the base:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
H Chiariglione Pres.
C.F. Delliquadri Sec.
M Pagano Tres.
L. Damato
N. Pizzuti
D. Venuto
A. Fuschino
A. Quaranta
G. Capanna
R. Cardillo
T. D'Isernia
C. Tutoilmondo
Lower, later an inscription was added:
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE COLUMBIAN FEDERATION
THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED ON OCTOBER 12, 1905
BY THE ITALIANS OF PUEBLO
Annotation
Presented to the city by the Christopher Columbus Lodge and the Columbian Federation of Italian Societies in the United States.
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