Monumental DC – A series where I’ll be documenting the many memorials in DC that we pass by frequently, but rarely seem to stop and pay notice to. Follow on twitter with #monumentalDC
What: Major General George Meade Statue
When: Sunday, December 4, 2011
Where: E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, 333 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Major General George Meade, the “Old Snapping Turtle”, is probably a man you have heard of before. George Meade rose through the ranks to become commander of the Army of the Potomac, a decorated officer and civil engineer (hurrah!). Meade is best known for his defeat of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettsyburg in 1863. For these efforts, the people of Pennsylvania commissioned a statue of him in October of 1913.
On Sunday December 4th I visited his statue outside of the US Courthouse on Pennsylvania Ave – but did you know that this is not the original location of the monument? When the monument was dedicated in 1927 it was located near the Grant Statue where the reflecting pool stands today. It was removed and put in storage in 1966 to allow for the construction of I-395 (which is below the reflecting pool), and did not see the light of day until 1983 when it was reinstalled at its current location near Judiciary Square.
Meade is flanked by six others on his pedestal, figures meant to represent Loyalty, Chivalry, Fame, Energy, Progress and Military Courage – all traits of the General himself.
Sources: Wikipedia, hmdb.org, SIRIS
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