Daguerre Memorial

The Daguerre Memorial is a bronze sculpture in front of the Old Patent Office Building in Washington DC, depicting the head of Louis Daguerre beneath a globe. An allegorical figure of Fame places a garland while granite elements form the base.

Sculptor Jonathan Scott Hartley created the memorial in 1890 at the initiative of photographers who wanted to honor the inventor of the daguerreotype process. It marked the recognition of a technique that had transformed visual representation decades earlier.

The memorial celebrates photography's invention as a turning point in human progress. The inscriptions honor this breakthrough alongside other technological advances of the era.

The memorial is near the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station and easily accessible by public transportation. Visitors will find it in front of the National Portrait Gallery, a central location with many museums nearby.

The granite base displays the years 1839-1889, marking photography's first half-century as a medium. The bronze was cast by Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company of New York, a respected foundry of that era.

GPS coordinates: 38.89733,-77.02220

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:21