George Washington Statue Returns to Newburgh After 6 Years

Update, Oct. 15: The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation responded to our questions regarding the return of the statue of George Washington to Newburgh.

Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site Manager Grant Miller noted that the statue was removed in 2020, not 2019 as this article originally stated. Washington's return was long in the works as part of a larger infrastructure plan that includes the renovation of Hasbrouck House, which is expected to be completed this fall, according to Miller.

When was the statue removed for restoration?

The George Washington statue was removed in March 2020 for repairs to the sword scabbard and augmentation of the base to allow the statue to be more securely attached to its granite plinth.

Why was the restoration needed, and what work was done?

Restoration was required to repair an open seam and crack in the end of scabbard. The statue was also re-waxed in 2020 but did not require significant surface treatment.

When was the restoration completed, and what companies and government agencies were involved in restoring George Washington to his previous luster?

Restoration was completed in May 2020. The work was done by Tallix Foundry, which became Pollich Foundry, later acquired by UAP. Restoration work was performed at the foundry in Rock Tavern, NY.

Any notable history about the statue, and any interesting details worth sharing more broadly?

The statue was fashioned of cast bronze in 1887 by sculptor William Rudolf O’Donovan in the National Fine Art Foundry of Maurice J. Power in New York City. O’Donovan created two more statues of Washington; one in 1883 for the Plaza Washington in Caracas, Venezuela, and one for the Trenton Battle Monument in Trenton, NJ. He also created the statue of Daniel Morgan at the Saratoga Battle Monument, John Pauldin at Patriot’s Park in Tarrytown, NY, commemorating the capture of John Andre, and the Irish Brigade Monument at Gettysburg Battlefield. O’Donovan fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Due to his exemplary work, he later became an associate of the National Academy of Design. O’Donovan utilized a copy of the 1785 life mask of George Washington to cast the statue’s face, making it one of the most accurate likenesses of Washington. The statue was placed in the Tower of Victory upon the Tower’s opening. It remained there until the 1950s, when it was removed after the Tower was damaged in a storm. It was placed in front of the Museum until the late 1970s, when it was returned to the Tower. The statue is a contributing element to this National Register-listed property.

In a social media video with artist Jim Savage ahead of Newburgh Open Studios, he made an offhand comment about "the President going out for a cleaning" a few years ago and not yet coming back. Was there any connection between the timing of the statue's arrival back on the pedestal this week and Jim's comment?

The statue has been returned after significant capital investments across the full property, including landscape and building elements, over several years. Capital projects include rehabilitation of all site paths, installation of new pathways, and improvements to the terrace area around the Tower of Victory, new exhibit installations in the museum’s east and west wings, and most recently, restoration of the Hasbrouck House, which will be completed this fall. The agency also developed more thorough interpretation of George Washington's complex legacy and career before reinstallation. This was accomplished through transformative upgrades to exhibit galleries in the museum and the site’s exterior interpretive signage.

Original article:

George Washington made a triumphant return to Newburgh in late September. Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site announced on Facebook that a statue of the country's first president had returned to its pedestal in the Tower of Victory. The bronze statue created in 1887 by sculptor William O'Donovan was removed in 2019 for restoration.

Washington made Newburgh his headquarters for 16 months during the American Revolution. This stay marked his longest in any one spot for the duration of the war.

History of Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site

The land was acquired in 1850, making it the first publicly owned historic site in the country, according to the headquarters' website.

The park is operated by New York State and features the Hasbrouck House, which is the building that was actually used by Washington and is currently closed for renovation; the Tower of Victory, which was built in the 1880s; and the museum, which is housed in a brick building that was erected in 1910.

Did Newburgh Artist's Comments Influence Timing of Washington Statue's Return?

While promoting Newburgh Open Studios last month, local artist Jim Savage made mention of living across from Washington's Headquarters and noted the influence the site and the city have had on him. During the interview, Savage made an off-hand comment about the president being absent from the location.

"He's actually missing from his pedestal at the moment, which is unfortunate. It's been five years now since he was sent out for a cleaning," Savage joked in a Sept. 22 social media video. (Washington was actually gone for seven years, not five.)

Did one artist hasten the return of another artist's depiction of our first president? Hudson Valley Post reached out to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for comment about whether or not Savage's comments played any role in the timing of the statue's return a week later.