Statue of Freedom

Lore & Background

The statue was designed by Thomas Crawford, who was commissioned in 1854 and executed the plaster model in his studio in Rome, Italy. U.S. Senator and Secretary of War Jefferson Davis ordered the removal of a liberty cap from the design, replacing it with a military helmet adorned with stars and an eagle's head. Crawford died in 1857 before the model left his studio. The model was shipped from Italy in 1858, but the ship leaked and was stored in Bermuda before finally arriving in Washington, D.C., by late March 1859. The statue was cast in five main sections by Clark Mills, with work halted in 1861 due to the Civil War and completed by the end of 1862. The foreman went on strike, and Mills turned the project over to Philip Reid, one of the slaves working at the foundry. The statue was hoisted by former slaves in sections and assembled atop the cast-iron pedestal; the final section was raised on December 2, 1863.

Reader's Guide

The Statue of Freedom is a significant symbol of the United States, representing victory and peace. Its design incorporates elements such as a military helmet, a sheathed sword, a laurel wreath, and the Shield of the United States. The statue stands atop a cast-iron globe encircled with the national motto E pluribus unum. It has appeared on official designs including postage stamps, commemorative coins, and medals such as the Medal of Freedom and the Iraq Campaign Medal. The statue underwent restoration in 1993, when it was brought down by helicopter for repairs and returned later that year. The plaster model is displayed in the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center. The statue's history reflects tensions over slavery, as Jefferson Davis objected to the liberty cap, and enslaved and formerly enslaved workers contributed to its casting and installation.

Did You Know?

• The statue's original name was Freedom Triumphant in War and Peace.
• Jefferson Davis ordered the removal of a liberty cap from the design, replacing it with a military helmet.
• The statue was cast by Clark Mills, and the foreman's strike led to enslaved worker Philip Reid overseeing the casting.
• The statue was hoisted by former slaves freed by the Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862.