If you tour the State Capitol building, one of the first stops is a statue of George Washington. Although we usually see the father of our country dressed in a Revolutionary War uniform, this sculpture depicts him in a uniform that’s a bit more “classical.”   

The story behind this statue began on Jan. 22, 1816, when retired statesman, author, architect and former president Thomas Jefferson responded to a letter from North Carolina U.S. Senator Nathaniel Macon. Macon wanted Jefferson’s opinion about a statue of Washington that the North Carolina Legislature had wanted commissioned for the State House (now the State Capitol).

Jefferson not only recommended the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, but he suggested Italian marble for the statue and thought Washington should be depicted in the dress of a Roman centurion. Jefferson advised Macon: “I am sure the artist, and every person of taste in Europe would be for the Roman . . . . Our boots and regimentals have a very puny effect.”

The North Carolina Legislature followed Jefferson’s advice, and in December 1821, the sculpture was prominently displayed in the State House. Sadly, a fire destroyed the building and crushed the statue in 1831.

A new State Capitol building was completed in 1840, but there was no statue of Washington. In the early 1900s, the Italian government donated a plaster copy of Canova’s statue to North Carolina, and in 1970, private funds were used to create a reproduction of the statue out of Italian marble. This reproduction was eventually installed in the State Capitol rotunda. By 1970, Jefferson’s advice would have been viewed with contempt by members of the state’s General Assembly who were dismayed about the inappropriateness of Washington’s short hemline, bare legs, and sandals.

At the North Carolina Museum of History, you can see the plaster copy from the Italian government and a section of Canova’s original sculpture. Whether you are a native or have recently moved to the state, a trip to the State Capitol building is a wonderful way for children to explore history, art, architecture and government. They can hear a fascinating ghost story too, if the tour guide is so inclined.

During your visit, see if your kids notice a pen in Washington’s hand and a sword under his feet. Could it be that the artist was implying something about Washington’s character? English writer and playwright Edward Bulwer-Litton wrote, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” However, that is a topic for another month.  

B.J. Davis of the N.C. Museum of History writes about history for kids once a month on TriangleMom2Mom.