Little Italy Columbus Monument – Baltimore, Maryland

 

Removal and Repurposing Frameworks. Explore definitions here.

Introduction

Little Italy, a quaint community a few blocks from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, stands as a welcoming sanctuary of Italian culture. The predominantly Roman Catholic Italian community founded several Italian American parishes, including St. Leo’s Church and Our Lady of Pompeii Church. A significant number of Italians also settled around Lexington, Belair-Edison, and Cross Street. It is here where the Little Italy Christopher Columbus statue was located. 

Section 1: Background 

With the help of donations from the Italian American Organization United (IAOU) of Maryland and the Italian American community of Baltimore, the monument was designed by Italian sculptor Mauro Bigarani. Erected on October 8th, 1984, in Columbus Piazza by then-mayor of Baltimore, William Donald Schaefer and President Ronald Reagan, the monument was seen as a commemoration and triumph for the Italian American community. The Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, the three ships of Christopher Columbus’ fleet, were depicted on the memorial’s marble base along with the wording, “Discoverer of America”. It faced east along Eastern Avenue, the same direction Columbus’ ships had come from centuries earlier. The monument stood as a positive symbol for the Italian American community for 36 years despite the growing controversy surrounding the legacy of Christopher Columbus worldwide. 

The monument is not technically located in Little Italy, but across the road close to the nearby harbor in Columbus Piazza. The piazza, or public square, is roughly half a block in size and two blocks from the main Little Italy area. There is a plaque honoring the Italian American community near the location of the fallen monument. The plaque also lists those who contributed to the development of the piazza. 

The pedestal of the fallen monument sits within a small iron gate at the center of a larger raised circular platform with several Italian flags standing along the perimeter. Although the statue has been removed, the pedestal remains standing roughly seven feet in the air featuring engravings about Christopher Columbus and his “achievement.” The engravings contain signatures and sayings from the police commissioner, the mayor, and other prominent figures in the Baltimore community. 

1.1 Christopher Columbus’ Legacy  

After leaving Spain, Columbus first made landfall in what is now called the Bahamas. It was there that the catastrophic implications of Columbus’ expedition to the New World began to take hold. Pueblo oncologist Louis Balizet (2020) states: 

The violence unleashed by Columbus and his followers, coupled with diseases they transmitted (mostly influenza, smallpox, and measles) resulted in the virtual annihilation of Native Americans in the Caribbean within 100 years. That Columbus brought slavery, torture, and rape to every part of the ‘New World’ he touched is incontrovertible. His own words, and those of contemporary observers, provide overwhelming evidence of his depredations. Those who wish to venerate and commemorate Columbus as an intrepid explorer must face up to his extensive, well-documented, and gruesome dark side. 

It is widely known that Columbus’ arrival in the New World had a disastrous impact on Indigenous communities. This aspect of his legacy, as well as others, disqualifies Columbus from being an honorable figure worthy of monumental status in the eyes of many. In Saint Paul, Minnesota, Native American activist Mike Forcia led the effort to remove a statue of Christopher Columbus due to Columbus’ offensive status in Indigenous communities. It is important to note that monuments honoring Christopher Columbus are seen as oppressive by many outside of the Native American community, including those who stand against colonialism and the violation of human rights. At the time of writing, over 33 Christopher Columbus statues have been demolished or are in the process of being demolished since the spring of 2020 (Brito 2020). 

Historically, Christopher Columbus has been a proud symbol of heritage for the Italian American community. Italians in the United States faced widespread and violent anti-immigrant and anti-Italian sentiment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Facing discrimination and prejudice from Americans, the Italian American community saw Columbus as a figure in Italian history with a clear connection to the United States and thus, a symbol of their belonging. Undoubtedly, there are a number of Italian Americans today who recognize the complexity of Columbus’ legacy. 

Section 2: Framework – Removal and Repurposing

On July 4, 2020, the Little Italy Christopher Columbus statue was removed from its base by protestors, broken into pieces, and thrown into the nearby harbor. Over the course of several days, a diving and crane team recovered most of the monument from the water, though parts of the head were never found. By February of 2022, the statue had been reassembled by local artist Will Hemsley. This effort was funded in part by a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, awarded in October 2020. The Monument Toolkit Team defines removal “as “the act or process of extracting the monument from its original location. The monument exists in its original form, but it is not accessible to the general public (i.e., it is in storage or non-public archives).” Repurposing is defined as “the physical act of transforming the basic materials of the monument into another object—for example, salvaging metal from a statue to create an entirely different statue.” In this case, the basic materials were used to create a different statue in the likeness of the original. The repurposed version of the monument’s original form exists in storage.

Since the monument was toppled, the Little Italy community of Baltimore has been grappling with the loss of their cultural figure. When US/ICOMOS visited Baltimore, interviews conducted on the streets of Little Italy illustrated that residents were not only disappointed in how the statue came down, but also selective in how they perceived Columbus’ legacy. Some residents stated that the statue was planned to come down anyway and tearing it down violently was wrong. Furthermore, many of the Italians in the community expressed that the removal didn’t really do anything to the community except anger people (Ezeilo 2022).

The Little Italy Christopher Columbus statue, a monument of oppression, was toppled by those who viewed the statue as one that “celebrate[s] European colonialism,” and thus “necessarily celebrate[s] black slavery, indigenous genocide, human trafficking and rape” (Cox and Weil 2020). In 2020, The Baltimore Bloc activist group had warned then Baltimore Mayor Young via the X platform (formerly Twitter) that it was up to him to “decide if the city will remove these racist monuments or if [they’re] leaving it up to The People to handle” (ibid.). 

The Washington Post reported that “for years, city leaders and activists had clashed with Italian American heritage groups in Baltimore over whether to leave the Columbus statue standing in the heart of a neighborhood built by immigrants. Critics wanted it removed because of what they see as Columbus’s association with the genocide of Native Americans” (Cox and Weil 2020). In a July 2020 statement, then Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott stated, “I suggested that the last administration remove this statue when they removed the Confederate monuments. I support Baltimore’s Italian American community and Baltimore’s indigenous community. I cannot, however, support Columbus” (WMAR News Baltimore 2020). Controversy surrounding the Little Italy Christopher Columbus statue did not start in 2020. The removal or replacement of the statue was discussed, but no action was taken. Activists took it upon themselves to remove the statue on July 4, 2020. 

2.1. Moving Forward

The statue, which had originally been gifted to the City of Baltimore by the Italian American Organizations United, was returned to the organization. President of the IAOU, John Pica, has stated that the replica statue will not return to the base in Columbus Piazza and the organization is looking for an “appropriate home” for it (WBAL News 2022). In October 2024, that place had yet to be found. Pica shares that it has been a challenge: 

We have to find a place to put that statue… Quite frankly, we offered it to Father [Bernard] Carman [at St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church in Little Italy], who is afraid of the controversy. We’ve offered it to others. They really don’t want the controversy. So we’re really looking for an appropriate place to put it (Gunts 2024). 

Pica has expressed that “for many Italian Americans, this isn’t about Columbus at all, but rather celebrating culture and heritage, which is the basis for the new statue” (WBAL News 2022). However, he is aware of the controversy that led to the original statue’s removal in 2020, and is understanding of the fact that the replica should be placed with careful consideration.

Since the replica Christopher Columbus statue will not be placed on the empty base, the Italian American Organizations United must determine what will. This was the main topic of conversation at the October 14, 2024, Little Italy Neighborhood Association (LINA) meeting. Pica was present and shared that “although planners [had] come up with some preliminary ideas,” “he and others in his group wanted residents of the larger Little Italy community to be part of the discussions and decision-making process” (Gunts 2024). Some suggestions for the replacement statue included former U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, a Little Italy native, first Italian American Baltimore Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., and an olive tree. Two of the front-running options are a statue of Mother Cabrini or an anonymous Italian immigrant(s). To fund creation of the artwork, the IAOU has already raised $4,750 and secured $40,000 via a state grant.

Several community members voiced concerns about retaining the original base. They fear that if it is left in place, it may impact the safety of the new statue. However, there are practical obstacles to its removal. Pica stated matter of factly the cost associated with such an effort: “It’s going to cost thousands of dollars… it weighs several tons. We’d have to hire a crane company to move it. We’d have to insure it. We’d have to transport it. We’d have to find a home for it. Then we’d have to hire another crane company to put it where it’s going to go. It’s going to cost a lot of money” (ibid.). The decision regarding whether or not to replace the base for a new sculpture may ultimately depend on availability of funds. 

In regards to determining what should replace the Christopher Columbus statue, LINA President Lisa Regnante stated, “We need to talk about how do we revitalize that piazza in a way that we can still take pride as Italian Americans, as Little Italy, but make sure that it’s something that everybody can celebrate… This is going to be an ongoing discussion… This replacement is going to probably be a replacement for the next 100 years or more, so whatever we do, we want to do it right” (ibid.). In addition, Pica said future park plans include additional signage ensuring that the “different constituencies that inhabited this land will be recognized in a plaque, a plaque separate from the plaque [acknowledging] the Italians who worked to get that statue there in the early 1980s and presently” (ibid.). It has been decided that the park will be renamed from Columbus Piazza to Little Italy Piazza or Piazza d’Italia (ibid.). 

The toppling of the Little Italy Christopher Columbus statue on July 4, 2020, was upsetting to many in Baltimore’s Italian American community. They raised funds to repurpose pieces of the original statue into a replica to be placed in a non-public location not yet determined. In Columbus Piazza, where activists expressed their rejection of Columbus, the IAOU will replace the statue with a less controversial figure that symbolizes Italian American culture and heritage. 

Section 3: Conclusion 

Christopher Columbus statues that were sponsored by Italian American groups and exist in communities that were historically comprised of a large number of Italian immigrants are often positive symbols of heritage to the local Italian American community. However, statues of Christopher Columbus represent oppression to the Indigenous American community, the African American community, and those who stand against colonialism and the violation of human rights. 

The IAOU in Baltimore has recognized that a new Columbus statue cannot replace the old one. LINA President Lisa Regnante has stated they are making decisions regarding the statue’s replacement with the intention that it represents the Italian American community and is also “something that everybody can celebrate” (Gunts 2024). In Baltimore, the Italian American community has demonstrated a commitment to considering perspectives and experiences outside of their own to the benefit of all. 

Change was brought to Baltimore’s Columbus Piazza in July 2020. It was welcome by some, and upsetting to others. The result is that a statue of Christopher Columbus will be replaced with a monument representing the culture and heritage of the local Italian American community that does not also represent the historical oppression of other local and national communities. 

References 

Balizet, Louis. 2020. “Was Columbus Really That Bad? No, He Was Worse.” Pueblo Chieftain. July 7, 2020. https://www.chieftain.com/story/opinion/editorials/2020/07/07/was-columbus-really-that-bad-no-he was-worse/42256475/. 

Brito, Christopher. 2020.  “Dozens of Christopher Columbus Statues Have Been Removed since June.” CBS News. September 25, 2020. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/christopher-columbus-statue-removed-cities/. 

Coard, Michael. 2019. “Coard: Five Facts Proving Columbus Was One of History’s Worst Monsters.” The Philadelphia Tribune. October 13, 2019.  https://www.phillytrib.com/commentary/coard-five-facts-proving-columbus-was-one-of-historys-wor st-monsters/article_016313a3-3e44-58c7-a815-a890292aff5c.html. 

Cox, Eric and Martin Weil. 2020. “Columbus statue in Baltimore toppled, thrown in Inner Harbor.” The Washington Post. July 5, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/columbus-statue-in-baltimore-apparently-toppled-thrown-in-inner-harbor/2020/07/04/c1a99de0-be66-11ea-bdaf-a129f921026f_story.html.

Dickstein, Ryan. 2020. “Baltimore City to return destroyed Christopher Columbus statue to original owners.” WMAR News Baltimore. September 1, 2020. https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/baltimore-city-to-return-destroyed-christopher-columbus-statue-to-original-owners. 

Ezeilo, Miles. 2022. Interview with Little Italy community members. June 1, 2022.  

Gunts, Ed. 2024. “What should replace Baltimore’s Christopher Columbus statue? Ideas abound and memories linger.” Baltimore Fishbowl. October 28, 2024. https://baltimorefishbowl.com/stories/what-should-replace-baltimores-christopher-columbus-statue-ideas-abound-and-memories-linger/.

Morgan, Edmund. 2009. “Columbus’ Confusion about the New World.” Smithsonian Magazine. October 1, 2009. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/columbus-confusion-about-the-new-world-140132422/.

National Endowment for the Humanities. N.d. “NEH Award GA-278550-20.” Accessed December 9, 2024. https://apps.neh.gov/publicquery/AwardDetail.aspx?gn=GA-278550-20. 

Parker, Luke. 2022. “Centreville sculptor sees artistic value in controversial Columbus statue.” The Star Democrat. February 25, 2022. https://www.stardem.com/news/state_news/centreville-sculptor-sees-artistic-value-in-controversial-columbus-statue/article_b75f6e15-a347-5058-baa0-33c87d90d9fc.html?fbclid=IwAR3B46xWJIl5Ka2enK6Ti5NQyzcQk6_fA64KYullMtJMm-uQrp3c90__6W0.

Staff. 2020. “Columbus Piazza.” Promotion Center for Little Italy Baltimore. https://www.promotioncenterforlittleitaly.org/columbus-piazza.html. 

The Baltimore Sun. 2020. “Baltimore mayor: Columbus statue vandals will face justice.” The Baltimore Sun.  July 9, 2020. https://www.wmar2news.com/media/v/content/2d340952dfa5cf2f2a72e1985a7e3f37 

WBAL News. 2022.“Group commissions new sculpture after Baltimore’s Christopher Columbus state toppled in 2020.” October 10, 2022. https://www.wbaltv.com/article/new-statue-baltimore-christopher-columbus-statue-toppled/41577711. 

WMAR News Baltimore. 2020. “Christopher Columbus statue being retrieved from Baltimore’s harbor.” WMAR News Baltimore. July 5, 2020. https://www.wmar2news.com/news/region/baltimore-city/protesters-in-baltimore-pull-down-statue-of-christopher-columbus-throw-it-into-inner-harbor. 

Zumer, Bryna. 2022. “Columbus Statue That Was Thrown into Harbor Is Rebuilt.” WMAR News. April 26, 2022.  https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/columbus-statue-that-was-thrown-into-harbor-is-rebuilt. 

—2024. “What’s next for Little Italy’s ‘Columbus Piazza’?” WMAR News Baltimore. October 30, 2024. Whats-next-for-little-italys-columbus-piazza.