Alexander Robey Shepherd

Alexander Robey Shepherd is a bronze sculpture located on Pennsylvania Avenue near 13th Street in Washington D.C. depicting the former governor in formal clothing with detailed facial features and an upright stance on a public base.

The monument honors a governor who began modernizing Washington D.C.'s infrastructure starting in 1871, transforming the city significantly through major construction projects that reshaped its layout and services. These improvements in streets and public facilities influenced how the city developed for decades to follow.

The statue reflects how the city chose to honor a governor who transformed Washington through infrastructure work, serving as a daily reminder to passersby of his impact on urban development. It sits in a place where visitors naturally pass by and encounter this historical commemoration.

The sculpture sits on Pennsylvania Avenue in a central location, easily reached from Federal Triangle Metro station, making it a natural stop while exploring the neighborhood. You can view it while walking along this main downtown thoroughfare without needing special directions.

The inscription identifies the figure as 'The Father of Modern Washington' in recognition of his central role in creating street and utility systems that still run through the city today. Many visitors do not realize that nearly every modern infrastructure they pass was shaped by decisions made in the 1870s.