Discovery of America

The Discovery of America depicts a standing figure of Christopher Columbus alongside a Native American woman in white marble on a rectangular pedestal.

In 1844, Italian sculptor Luigi Persico created this neoclassical monument for the east facade of the United States Capitol building during an era of national expansion.

The sculpture reflects nineteenth century European artistic perspectives on the encounter between European explorers and indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Visitors can access the sculpture through public transportation, with multiple Metro stations and bus stops within walking distance of the National Mall.

The marble used for this sculpture was carefully selected from Italian quarries and transported across the Atlantic Ocean for installation in Washington.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1844

Creator: Luigi Persico

Made from material: marble

GPS coordinates: 38.88970,-77.00860

Latest update: May 12, 2025 03:49