In New Haven, Connecticut, the Christopher Columbus statue that was taken down in 2020 following the racial discussions sparked by the police killing of George Floyd has been relocated to a new museum. The statue, originally erected in 1892, will be part of the collection at the Lost in New Haven Museum, focusing on preserving the city’s history.
Mayor Justin Elicker, along with other officials, announced a recent agreement with the museum for an “art loan” of the Columbus statue. Robert Greenberg, the museum’s founder, expressed the honor of housing a significant artifact in New Haven’s history and emphasized the museum’s commitment to acknowledging both the contributions of immigrants to the city and its foundation on the indigenous Quinnipiac people’s unceded land.
The New Haven Parks Commission decided to remove the statue following multiple instances of vandalism. While many residents demanded its removal, the decision was contentious. Opponents to the statue labeled Columbus as a white supremacist whose exploration led to the oppression of Indigenous peoples by Europeans. Conversely, supporters viewed it as a crucial emblem of Italian-American heritage; the statue had long stood in Wooster Square, a historically Italian neighborhood.
The removal of the statue was marked by confrontations between opposing groups. In 2022, an Italian-American organization unsuccessfully attempted to have the statue reinstated through legal action. There was also a proposal to place the statue in the Knights of Columbus Museum, but it did not progress.
Robert Bonanno, leading the Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Committee, expressed satisfaction with the statue’s new home, citing its significance to the Wooster Square community. He is pleased that the statue will be accessible in the museum setting, allowing the public to continue appreciating it.
The preceding year saw the establishment of a new monument dedicated to immigrants in the area where the Columbus statue once stood.