Sculptures of Springfield: Christopher Columbus

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Christopher Columbus (Christoforo Columbo)

a.k.a. The Springfield Italian-American War Memorial

Springfield, MA

Topic: Sculptures of Springfield

GPS: N42° 05.486; W072° 34.778

Quick Description: 

A statue of Christopher Columbus at the Springfield Italian-American War Memorial at Main and Locust Streets in the South End neighborhood of Springfield.

Long Description:

Christopher Columbus was born about October 31, 1451 in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. He was an explorer and navigator whose voyages of exploration were financed by the Monarchs of Spain. He made four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, the publicity from which led to an awareness by Europeans of the existence of a New World. He established permanent settlements on the island of Hispaniola and started the colonization process of the New World. He died in Valladolid, Spain on May 20, 1506 at age 54. 

At the center of the Springfield Italian-American War Memorial is a 5.5' statue of Christopher Columbus standing on a 4.5' base. The statue is flanked by two matching tablets containing the names of Italian-American residents of Greater Springfield who served the United States in wartime. The monument is in the center of a newly refurbished and landscaped traffic island in the South End of Springfield, historically the Italian-American area of Springfield. The statue was erected on October 12, 1963, Columbus Day, and rededicated in 1986 on the 350th anniversary of the founding of Springfield.

A granite statue of Christopher Columbus is wearing a tunic, a medallion around his neck, and a fur lined coat is standing on an ornate pedestal. He is holding a scroll in his lowered left hand and a sextant in his right hand which is at waist level. He is standing in front of a capstan on a base inscribed with his name:


CHRISTOFORO COLUMBO
The base has an ornate frieze depicting a central flower followed by leaves and berries. On the front, below the frieze, is the insignia of the U.S. Italian-American War Veterans and the inscription:


US ITALIAN AMERICAN WAR VETERANS
DEDICATED OCT.12, 1963
BY
JOSEPH C. CICCARELLI
POST 59
AND
UNITED ITALIAN AMERICAN
SOCIETIES AND CLUBS
OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
On a tablet below the memorial is the inscription:


1636 {Image of the Springfield Municipal Group} 1986
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD IS PROUD
AND HONORED TO REDEDICATE THE STATUE
OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, A TRUE SYMBOL
OF THE PRIDE AND DEDICATION OF SPRINGFIELD'S
ITALIAN-AMERICANS PAST AND PRESENT
DURING THIS 350TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR
GREAT CITY
RICHARD E. NEAL
MAYOR
The left tablet contains a three column list of 42 names. The right tablet contains a three column list of 36 names.