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- The 14 Forgotten Stories Behind America’s Most Famous Landmarks - June 16, 2025
- 15 Times History Was Changed by a Single Speech - June 15, 2025
Robert E. Lee – Richmond, Virginia
The statue of Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia, once towered over Monument Avenue as a symbol of the Confederacy. Removed in September 2021, its absence marked a seismic shift in how the city remembers its past. Today, the site has not been filled with a new statue, but instead has been transformed into a vibrant public gathering space. Community members now use the area for art installations and local events, many themed around unity, healing, and justice. This transformation has inspired both celebration and debate, as some see it as progress, while others mourn the loss of a historical landmark. Murals and temporary sculptures have emerged, each telling a different story than the one Lee’s statue once did. People come together here not to look up at a single figure, but to engage with each other and reflect on Richmond’s evolving identity.
John C. Calhoun – Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston’s John C. Calhoun statue, which overlooked Marion Square for more than a century, was removed in June 2020. The empty pedestal that remains is a striking visual—an intentional gap that invites passersby to consider the city’s complicated relationship with its own history. Calhoun, a defender of slavery, is now a figure of controversy rather than reverence. The vacant plinth has itself become a topic of conversation, a silent reminder of the legacies that still linger. Local residents sometimes leave flowers, signs, or graffiti, turning the emptiness into a canvas for public expression. City officials have yet to decide what, if anything, should permanently replace the statue, reflecting ongoing debates about memory and meaning. This absence has become a symbol in itself—one that says just as much as a statue ever could.
Frank Rizzo – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Frank Rizzo, Philadelphia’s former mayor and police commissioner, was a polarizing figure. His statue was removed in June 2020 after years of protest. Since then, the space has been reimagined as a hub for public art and community events. Murals have gone up, and local artists are invited to use the area as an open-air gallery. Themes of inclusivity, reform, and hope now dominate a site once associated with law-and-order politics. Children play here, and community groups gather for rallies and vigils. The change has sparked conversations about who deserves to be celebrated in public and how cities can use their spaces to foster connection rather than division. The air feels lighter here now, as if the city has exhaled after holding its breath for decades.
Junípero Serra – San Francisco, California
San Francisco’s statue of Junípero Serra, the missionary whose legacy has come under scrutiny for his role in the colonization and suffering of Indigenous peoples, was taken down in June 2020. The site remains vacant, a physical pause in the city’s landscape. Ongoing discussions center on how best to honor Indigenous communities and acknowledge their experiences. Local Native organizations have proposed a new monument that would tell a more complete story of California’s origins. In the meantime, the empty space has hosted educational panels and temporary art pieces, each exploring themes of survival and resilience. The absence of Serra’s statue is not just about removal, but about listening—about making space for new voices and histories that have too often been ignored.
Raphael Semmes – Mobile, Alabama
The statue of Confederate naval officer Raphael Semmes was removed from downtown Mobile in June 2020. Instead of being destroyed, the statue was moved to the History Museum of Mobile, where it now sits with historical context provided. The original site remains open, awaiting input from the community on what should come next. Local leaders have solicited ideas from residents, ranging from a civil rights memorial to a community garden. The openness of the site is itself a kind of invitation, asking Mobile’s citizens to decide what kind of history they want to build. For now, it’s a patch of possibility, a space both literally and metaphorically under construction.
DeKalb County Confederate Monument – Decatur, Georgia
After the DeKalb County Confederate Monument was taken down in June 2020, the city made a bold decision. In August 2024, a statue of the late Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights hero and local son, was unveiled on the site. The new monument stands as a tribute to Lewis’s legacy of nonviolence, courage, and hope. Community members gathered to witness the unveiling, many moved to tears at the sight of a leader who represented the best of their city. The statue has quickly become a gathering point for celebrations and remembrance, with school groups and activists alike visiting to pay their respects. The transformation from Confederate memorial to civil rights tribute is a clear message: Decatur is choosing to honor those who brought people together, not tore them apart.
Christopher Columbus – Saint Paul, Minnesota
The Christopher Columbus statue in Saint Paul, Minnesota, came down in June 2020, following years of activism by Indigenous groups. In its place, the site now features rotating educational displays about Indigenous history and culture. These exhibits are curated by local Native organizations, who use the space to tell their own stories. School groups visit to learn about Dakota and Ojibwe traditions, and community events often center on themes of reconciliation and understanding. The site has become less about a single person and more about a people—a shift that feels both overdue and hopeful. By focusing on education, Saint Paul is using its public space to build bridges rather than walls.
Albert Pike – Washington, D.C.
Albert Pike’s statue, the only outdoor Confederate monument in Washington, D.C., was toppled in June 2020. The city responded by converting the site into a space for public art installations. Local artists, many from communities historically underrepresented in public art, have filled the area with powerful pieces focusing on equality and justice. The installations change regularly, ensuring that the space remains dynamic and responsive to current events. Messages of hope and defiance are etched in paint and stone, offering a sharp contrast to Pike’s legacy. The site now feels alive, a testament to the idea that history is not static—and neither is public memory.
Hans Christian Heg – Madison, Wisconsin
The statue of Hans Christian Heg, a Norwegian immigrant and Union Army colonel who fought against slavery, was toppled during protests in June 2020. After a period of debate, the statue was restored and reinstalled in 2021. New plaques were added, providing deeper historical context and acknowledging the circumstances of its removal. The decision to reinstall Heg, but with more information and awareness, represents a middle path between erasure and blind celebration. Visitors now see not just a statue, but a conversation—a monument that invites questions and reflection rather than simple reverence. The site is busier than ever, as people come to learn, remember, and sometimes, to debate.
Edward Colston – Bristol, United Kingdom
Edward Colston’s statue stood in Bristol for over a century before being pulled down by protesters in June 2020. In a dramatic gesture, a sculpture of activist Jen Reid—depicting her with a raised fist—was temporarily erected in its place in July 2020. The installation became a lightning rod for debate about race, history, and who gets honored in public. Though Reid’s sculpture was later removed, its brief presence sparked global conversations about justice and remembrance. The original plinth now stands empty, but it is regularly decorated with flowers, banners, and art from the community. The city continues to grapple with what should permanently occupy the space, ensuring that the conversation Colston’s statue ignited is far from over.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
