Columbus Obelisk

The Columbus Obelisk is a white brick monument covered in stucco located in Herring Run Park. The structure features inscriptions on its shaft that commemorate a key historical figure.

A French consul donated this monument in 1792, making it the first of its kind in the country. It was later moved to its current location and received new dedications at that time.

The monument sits in a public park where visitors encounter it as part of the local landscape and its evolving story. People today see it in a different light than when it was first erected, reflecting how communities reassess what they choose to remember.

The monument sits in a public park that is easy to access and navigate on foot. The park setting provides space to walk around and read the inscriptions at your own pace.

The monument was moved from its original location on North Avenue in 1964 and received a metal tablet documenting the relocation. This tablet marks an important moment when the city chose to preserve and relocate the structure rather than remove it.

Location: Baltimore

Inception: August 1792

Official opening: October 12, 1792

Made from material: brick, stucco

GPS coordinates: 39.33634,-76.57452

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:01