Statue of Christopher Columbus (Ohio Statehouse)

The Statue of Christopher Columbus, sometimes referred to as the Columbus Statue, was a bronze sculpture formerly located on the grounds of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. It depicted Christopher Columbus standing, holding a scroll in his left hand and resting his right hand on a globe.

The statue was commissioned by the Italian-American community of Ohio and erected in 1933, marking the 400th anniversary of Ohio becoming part of the United States. It served as a visual representation of Italian-American heritage and a symbol of Columbus's role in American history, according to its supporters.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the statue became a focal point for controversy, reflecting broader national debates surrounding Columbus's legacy. Critics argued that Columbus's arrival in the Americas initiated a period of colonization, enslavement, and genocide for Indigenous peoples, rendering the statue a symbol of oppression rather than discovery.

Following increasing protests and calls for its removal, particularly in the wake of the George Floyd protests in 2020, the statue was removed from the Ohio Statehouse grounds in July 2020. The statue was placed in storage, and discussions regarding its future are ongoing. The removal highlighted the ongoing reevaluation of historical figures and monuments in the United States.