Richmond’s Monument Avenue Under Threat

Originally published October 2017 · p. 3

Robert E. Lee – equestrian sculpture by Antonin Mercié; unveiled May 29, 1890. (All photos by Shannon Pritchard)

RICHMOND, Va.—Monument Avenue has statues memorializing Virginians who fought for the Confederacy. Statues of Robert E. Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, Jefferson Davis, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Matthew Fontaine Maury and others are all located along this drive. An estimated 100,000 people attended the unveiling of the Robert E. Lee monument on May 29, 1890. Today they are in danger of vandalism and the threat of being taken down. We asked contributor, Shannon Pritchard of Old South Antiques, to photograph the monuments for Civil War News. Unfortunately, two of the monuments were vandalized before he was able to take photos of them for this issue.

Right: Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America – sculpted by Edward Valentine; unveiled June 3, 1907.

Richmond’s Monument Avenue Under Threat — photograph 2 from the original article

Bronze monument “To Commemorate The Deeds And Services Of The Richmond Howitzers Of The Period 1861-1865.” Located on the Virginia Commonwealth University grounds near Monument Avenue.

Richmond’s Monument Avenue Under Threat — photograph 3 from the original article

Left and below: J.E.B. Stuart – equestrian sculpture by Frederick Moynihan; unveiled May 30, 1907. Plastic covers the paint that was thrown on the monument by vandals.

Bronze 12-pounder Napoleon cannon marking the spot where a large earthwork of the inner line of defense for Richmond was constructed in 1861. Vandals wrote profanity on the pedestal.

Richmond’s Monument Avenue Under Threat — photograph 5 from the original article

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson – equestrian sculpture by Frederick William Sievers; unveiled October 11, 1919.