Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Removal—Private
The Equestrian Statue of Theodore Roosevelt is a bronze sculpture created in 1939 by James Earle Fraser for the Roosevelt Memorial Association. Fraser was a notable American sculpture in the early 20th century, making numerous iconic works throughout the United States. Examples of his work include “The End of the Trail” created for the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893; the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial in Philadelphia, 1906-1911; the Alexander Hamilton statue in Washington, D.C., 1923.
At the turn of the 21st century the statue was embroiled in conflict. Like thousands of other statues nationwide, it was erected at a time when public institutions were very much colonialist in their practices and ideals. The arrangement of the figures in the Theodore Roosevelt statue is a visual representation of that, as Roosevelt sits both above and in front of the two people of color. In the late 2010s the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), upon whose ground it resides, and New York City’s Public Design Commission (PDC), who have authority over permanent structures, landscape architecture, and art on or over City-owned property, worked to engage with the public about the problems related to the statue and to colonialism in institutions; they mounted an exhibit called “Addressing the Statue,” as well as provided written context on placards surrounding the statue. Following a unanimous vote from the PDC, it was announced in June 2020 that the statue would be removed.
At the request of the AMNH and the PDC, the EverGreene conservation team assessed, researched, planned, directed, and oversaw the removal of the statue to storage. EverGreene worked closely with the PDC and their Conservation Advisory Group (CAG)—who advises on projects specific to art and building conservation, and includes conservators, art historians, artists, and preservationists—to ensure that the works were being properly addressed. EverGreene developed the plan in partnership with Auer’s Moving & Rigging Company (Auer’s), and Nicholson & Galloway, Inc (N&G). Our team focused on the means and methods needed to dismantle and remove the bronze sculpture, N&G on the dismantling of the stone pedestal, and Auer’s on the rigging and transport.
During the actual deinstallation EverGreene removed pins holding the bronze part of the statute together and the individual pieces were lifted off using a riggers attached to a crane. The bronze pieces were transported on flat-bed trucks to a storage facility. The team documented the statue before, during, and after the removal.
