Statue of Christopher Columbus, Bronze statue in Discovery Park, Chula Vista, United States.
The Statue of Christopher Columbus in Discovery Park is a bronze figure created by artist Mario Zamora, depicting the navigator standing with crossed arms and a telescope held to his chest. The sculpture rests on a granite base and serves as a notable focal point within the park.
The monument was installed in 1991 to commemorate 500 years since Columbus arrived in the Americas, featuring a quotation from philosopher George Santayana on its base. This installation represented a moment of public recognition for a major historical figure.
The statue stood in a park originally named Discovery Park, which was renamed in 2022, two years after the sculpture was removed. The monument was among those taken down during the 2020 protests that followed George Floyd's death. Its plaque carries a four-line verse by philosopher George Santayana beginning "Columbus found a world, and had no chart."
The bronze figure was removed from the park and placed in storage in June 2020, so visitors to the renamed park will not find it on its granite base. The sculpture measures about 6 x 3 x 2 ft and once stood on a 6-ft granite pedestal with a 6-ft diameter.
The statue was dedicated to the location by a partnership between McMillin Communities and Home Capital, making it a privately funded public artwork. This connection shows how real estate developers contribute to shaping local public spaces.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,637 contributors worldwide.
