Source: Fox News
Summary
The Spirit of ’76 exhibition at Freedom Plaza in Washington D.C. celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with 22 statues and sculptural installations honoring Revolutionary War figures. The installation, commissioned by President Donald Trump, features a restored equestrian monument of Caesar Rodney, a towering “Spirit of Liberty” centerpiece, and an immersive memorial honoring Americans who died aboard British prison ships during the Revolution. Designer Matthew Taylor aims to honor ordinary Americans who did extraordinary things during the Revolution.
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As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
The Spirit of ’76 exhibition transforms Freedom Plaza into an open-air gallery, complete with a 23-foot bronze figure holding the Declaration of Independence. Visitors can walk through a bronze recreation of a British prison ship, hearing the sound of water from a restored fountain. The exhibition’s centerpiece, the Spirit of Liberty, stands 23 feet tall, holding a replica of the Declaration of Independence and raising a sword skyward. The installation is free to the public and will remain on display throughout the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Caesar Rodney’s equestrian statue, previously removed from Wilmington’s Rodney Square, now occupies a prominent location in the nation’s capital. The bronze sculptures of 12 Revolutionary War soldiers celebrate ordinary Americans who made extraordinary sacrifices.
The exhibition’s message is one of honoring ordinary citizens who answered the call during the Revolution. As visitors leave, they are encouraged to think about the people they had never encountered before arriving at Freedom Plaza.
The Spirit of ’76 exhibition is a performance of patriotism, with its grand statues and immersive memorial. But it is also a reminder that America was built by ordinary citizens who answered extraordinary moments.
As visitors photograph the statues against the Washington skyline, the bronze figures seem frozen in time, continuing their historic ride into the nation’s founding.
