Introduction
On October 12, 1492 Christopher Columbus set foot upon one of the Bahamas. The Age of
Discovery had begun. Columbus became a metaphor for discovery, adventure, bravery, daring and perseverance. He set into motion a series of historical events
that resulted in an entirely new world.
The first monument for Columbus was erected on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the discovery, in 1792, in Baltimore, Md. In the same time there was a serious movement afoot to rename the United States of America "Columbia." That goal was not achieved, but the capital district was given the name District of Columbia, and several cities across the United States were named Columbus or Columbia. In the 19th century about a dozen other monuments were erected to honor the Admiral (see the chronological list).
By the 400th anniversary, all of North America joined in a celebration that lasted an entire year. Italian Americans raised the money necessary to erect a giant monument to Columbus in New York City's Central Park. Exhibits, parades, and festivities throughout the country culminated in Chicago at the World's Columbian Exposition.
In that year and the following years Columbus monuments mushroomed all over the world, especially in the United States. My research on the WWW and during my holidays resulted in over 400 memorials all over the world. This website has the intention to list and illustrate these monuments.
At the 44th annual meeting of the Society for the History of Discoveries, New Orleans, La., 24 October 2003 I presented a paper "Geographical Distribution of Monuments for Christopher Columbus". Click on the title for the text of this paper.
|
This metal figurine of 42 cm high is a gift from George Glazer (thanks George). Who can give me more information about it? When is it made, for what occasion, what was the model?
|
