Situated in Herring Run Park, this monument was erected in 1792 by the French Consul Charles François Adrian de Paulmier, Chevalier d'Anmour. Originally standing on d'Anmour's estate on North Avenue and Harford Road, the obelisk was donated to the City of Baltimore to commemorate the tricentennial anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America. The monument featured an inscription reading “Sacred to the Memory of Chris. Columbus / Octob. XII MDCCVIIIC” until the plaque was destroyed in 2017.
In October 1964, the obelisk was rededicated and moved to its present location in Herring Run Park. However, the structure has faced significant controversy. In August 2017, a group of individuals inspired by efforts to remove Confederate monuments vandalized the monument and posted a video of the act on YouTube. Following this, the city's Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation was authorized to restore and relocate the monument, with discussions regarding its rededication to someone other than Columbus.
In 2020, Councilman Ryan Dorsey introduced legislation to rename the monument as "The Police Violence Victims Monument." On November 16, 2020, Baltimore Mayor Jack Young vetoed the legislation, citing concerns by Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Michael S. Harrison. The City Council failed to override the mayor's veto on December 8, 2020, with a vote of 9 to 6.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Friendly Jane
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