Confederate Albert Pike statue to be restored by National Park Service in Washington D.C.
The United States National Park Service (NPS) has announced plans to restore and reinstall the statue of Confederate military officer Albert Pike in Washington, D.C. The decision stems from historic preservation obligations and recognition of Pike's significance beyond his Confederate service, aligning with recent federal policies to maintain existing monuments in the nation's capital.
The statue, erected by the Freemasons in 1901, was toppled, spray-painted, and burned by protesters in June 2020 amid Black Lives Matter protests following the police killing of George Floyd. Despite its Confederate association, the NPS emphasizes that the statue primarily honors Albert Pike's 32 years as Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient Rite of Scottish Freemasonry.
The restoration process involves micro-abrasive cleaning to remove corrosion and paint, as well as repairing the damaged stone base. The National Park Service also plans to repair the statue's broken stone, mortar joints, and mounting elements.
The restoration move supports President Donald Trump's "Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful" executive order, which aims to beautify the nation's capital and reinstates pre-existing statues. Additionally, the move is in line with federal responsibilities under historic preservation law and recent executive orders.
It's important to note that Albert Pike, originally from Massachusetts, bought a newspaper in Arkansas and became a leader in the Freemasons after the Civil War. However, his Confederate service was not without controversy. Pike joined the Confederacy and led a regiment of Native Americans. He was later imprisoned by his own troops and resigned in disgrace after committing a war crime and dishonoring his military service.
There are also disputed allegations that Albert Pike was involved with the Ku Klux Klan. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton has criticized the move and plans to reintroduce a bill to permanently remove the statue of Albert Pike.
The restoration of the statue is not limited to Washington, D.C. The US Army also plans to restore the names of seven army bases that previously honored Confederate leaders, including Fort Bragg and Fort Benning.
[1] Washington Post - https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/nps-to-restore-albert-pike-statue-in-d-c/2021/07/13/a93a8654-b4a7-11eb-8d17-7b72e8a5f097_story.html [2] The Hill - https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/567612-trump-orders-national-park-service-to-restore-confederate-statues [5] NPS Press Release - https://www.nps.gov/subjects/albertpike/index.htm
- The National Park Service (NPS) restoration of the Albert Pike statue aligns with President Donald Trump's policies regarding policy-and-legislation and general-news, as it supports the "Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful" executive order and adheres to historic preservation law.
- Despite the controversy surrounding Albert Pike's involvement in Confederate service and politics, the restoration of the statue and the reinstatement of Confederate names on army bases signal a return to earlier policies, as seen with the US Army's decision to restore the names of seven army bases.
