Statue of Christopher Columbus

The Statue of Christopher Columbus was a 9-foot-tall bronze figure mounted on a limestone base with decorative bronze plaques depicting scenes. It occupied a prominent location near the eastern entrance of the park as part of a broader collection of sculptures.

The monument was installed in 1884 and was the first Columbus statue in the United States. It was created through an international collaboration between sculptors and was removed from the park in 2020.

Henry Shaw commissioned the statue as part of his vision to enhance Tower Grove Park with artworks representing European cultural figures and explorers.

The statue stood at the eastern edge of the park near South Grand Boulevard, accessible from the main pathways. Since its removal in 2020, it is no longer visible at its original location in the park.

The sculptor included a German inscription expressing his artistic disagreement with certain aspects of the work's representation. This personal statement reveals an interesting conflict between the artist and his patron over how the figure should be portrayed.

Location: St. Louis

Inception: 1884

Architects: George I. Barnett

Creator: Ferdinand Freiherr von Miller

GPS coordinates: 38.60500,-90.24278

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:43