King Jagiello Monument

King Jagiello Monument is a bronze equestrian statue in Central Park that shows the mounted ruler grasping two crossed swords raised high overhead. The figure stands roughly 7 meters tall on a granite base inscribed with his titles and the word Poland on both sides.

The statue was originally created for Poland's pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair. When Nazi Germany invaded Poland that same year, the monument remained in the United States and eventually found a permanent home in Central Park.

The monument honors King Jagiello's role as a leader who united Polish and Lithuanian forces. Visitors can feel the historical weight of his legacy as a figure of Polish pride and regional power.

The monument sits on the east side of Central Park near 79th Street, close to Turtle Pond and Belvedere Castle. The location makes it easy to reach from the park's main entrances and combine with visits to nearby attractions.

The granite base was designed by Aymar Embury II, a prominent park architect whose work shaped several historic monuments throughout New York. The dual-sided inscriptions on the pedestal reflect how this artwork became a refuge for Polish cultural memory during a period when Poland itself was occupied.