Progress Update on Historic Statues

Lincoln as he once stood in the South Park Blocks 

After a few years of near silence about several Portland monuments toppled or damaged during political protests dating to 2020, encouraging news is beginning to unfold after discussions with citizens, historians and artists.

 A progress report delivered to the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission on Feb. 24 suggests that sculptures of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt could be returned to their South Park Block homes sometime this year.

 Darion Jones, assistant director of the city Office of Arts & Culture reported on the following statues:

--Abraham Lincoln: Repair work was started last November to repair damage when the statue was felled.  The bronze alloy in the statue’s base turned out to be brittle and must be replaced before the statue can be returned.  Jones said a return date has yet to be determined, but it could be within a couple months.

--Teddy Roosevelt: Conservation work expected to take 18 months could be finished by year’s end.  Historians recommended by the Oregon Historical Society will write interpretive and historical commentaries to accompany Lincoln and Roosevelt.

--George Washington: This statue was toppled from private property.  Jones said it requires fewer repairs and a new site for it has yet to be determined.  Siting will involve community discussions, he said. The Washington statue also will have interpretive historical information added, wherever it eventually lands.

--Promised Land: This sculpture showing a pioneer couple and a son is being deaccessioned by the city because of its failure to include any other historical communities that inhabited Oregon.  The inclusion of weapons and the son holding a Bible suggests a religious preordination for taking over the state.  Jones said the city of John Day has expressed interest in the statue and that it likely will be sent there.

 --Harvey Scott: This statue will not be returned to its former location in Mt. Tabor Park.  The pioneering newspaper editor wrote disparagingly about Blacks and the city plans to deaccession the statue.  Jones said the process is more complicated because it was located in a national historic district, so additional procedures will be required.

--York: After Scott was toppled, a so-called anonymous “guerilla” bust of York, a Black slave who played important roles in the Lewis & Clark Expedition, was placed on the pedestal that formerly held Harvey Scott.  The York statue subsequently was destroyed beyond repair.  Jones noted that there is substantial interest in recreating the York statue and finding a suitable location for it.  One suggestion has been in Northwest Portland where a street already bears his name.

Figuring out what historical figures deserve to be honored and where "has been very complicated, very emotional for the city," said Kimberly Moreland, a landmarks commissioner.

 Community meetings and planning for the statues has been funded by a $350,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, Jones said.  He added that $100,000 also has been identified in city funding for repairs and installations.  If that amount is insufficient, Jones said public funding right be necessary given a major budget shortfall the city currently faces.

 The landmarks commission meeting did not address return of the David P. Thompson elk statue and fountain.  A city website said the statue and fountain should be reinstalled sometime this year, but no definite date is listed.

 ---Fred Leeson

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