The Gompers Gang: Honorin' a Union Legend in Washington's Buzzin' District

Sittin' pretty on a triangular park at the crossroads of 11th Street, Massachusetts Avenue, and N Street NW, this six-figure statue is a silent testament to the lasting impact of Gompers. He rose to fame from the U.S. cigar factories, become a union kingpin, and propelled the labor movement forward. The AFL, growin' from 50,000 to 3,000,000 members, was his masterpiece. Unfortunately, he bid us adieu in 1924, but a memorial was erected in his honor in 1933, a year after his departure.

Designed by Robert Ingersoll Aitken and the Fred Drew Company architectural firm, it was approved by Congress on March 5, 1928, and unveiled and dedicated on October 7, 1933. The shindig, graced by labor leaders, Eleanor Roosevelt, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, marked the pinnacle of this modern-day Robin Hood of labor legends. These days, the marble statue shows Gompers seated on a pedestal, with six figures representin' different labor movements standin' behind him.

Over time, the memorial has needed the occasional nip 'n' tuck due to erosion, cracks, and patina, and it received a 1980s refurbishment at a cost of $50,000.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons