Columbus Statute on Columbus Circle at Union Station

Ship Figurehead on Columbus Statute

The Columbus Statute is located just in front of Union Station on Columbus Circle. In the picture the statue blends in with the similarly colored and much larger Union Station behind it. The Knights of Columbus paid for the statue that was designed by Lorado Taft and dedicated on June 8, 1912.

The inscription of the side facing Union Station reads:

To
the memory of
Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus on Columbus Statute

whose high faith
and
indomitable courage
gave to mankind
a new world

Born MCDXXXVI
Died MDIV

MCDXXXVI translates to 1436, and MDIV translates to 1504. Interestingly I believe Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451 and died on near Valladolid, Spain on May 20, 1506. Perhaps the dates of 1436 and 1504 were believed to be accurate in 1912 when the statute was dedicated. And as we all know, whatever we think now takes precedence over what somebody else knew before, so on a statute designed today the dates might read:

Lion on Columbus Statute

Born MCDLI
Died MDVI

Click Here for Google Map showing the location of the Columbus Statue on Columbus Circle.

Closest Metro Station: The Union Station Metro Station on the Red Line is nearest to the Columbus Statue.