Proposed George Washington Monument, City Hall Park

Proposed George Washington Monument, City Hall Park - 1844

This was a proposed neoclassical Washington Monument to be erected at the southern end of the City Hall Park, where the Post Office stood later, but it was not constructed. Illustration painted and drawn on stone by British architect Robert Kerr (1823-1904). Dated December 17, 1844. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Robert Kerr (1823-1904) proposed an edifice to be used as a public promenade, to rest on a basement of steps of a circular form, with a colonnade, galleries, terraces, and an enriched dome.

On April 26, 1833, the legislature passed an act "in commemoration of the services and in honor of the memory of George Washington". A large number of ward delegates, together with the mayor, recorder, and presidents of the two boards of the common council, were made directors of a corporation entitled "The New-York Washington Monument Association". This body would collect funds to erect, in some part of the City of New-York, a monument in memory of George Washington. On April 18, 1843, the legislature incorporated the Washington Monument Association for the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of George Washington. A few monuments were proposed, but not executed, including this one.

The Washington Monument that was really erected was dedicated on July 4, 1856. This monument stood in a fenced enclosure in the middle of the street, at the junction of Broadway, Fourth Avenue and East 14th Street. Bt 1930 it was relocated to its current location, centrally in the south plaza.

To the left is the portico of St. Paul’s Chapel and to the right the American Museum.