Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Memorial

Downtown Washington, D.C. has many memorials, honoring politicians, the military, and the arts. An example of the latter is the statue of the 19^th-century American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The leading poet of the Victorian era, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) contributed to the development of a distinctly American literature. Among his most significant works are "A Psalm of Life" (1839), "The Village Blacksmith" (1842), "Paul Revere's Ride" (1861), and the book-length poems Evangeline (1847) and Song of Hiawatha (1855).

The memorial to Longfellow in the nation’s capital was the culmination of years of work by the Longfellow National Memorial Association, formed in 1902 in Washington. His would be the first national memorial dedicated to the arts. The association, whose members included Admiral George Dewey, Edward Everett Hale, Julia Ward Howe, John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan and Theodore Roosevelt as honorary regent, lobbied Congress, which gave permission to use a downtown site at Connecticut Avenue and M Street, NW. Congress also furnished $4,000 for the pedestal. The remaining $35,000 was raised by popular subscription.

The association chose William Couper as the sculptor. He was well qualified for the job, having studied and worked in sculpture since 1875. The resulting bronze statue sits atop a pedestal of reddish-brown marble from Scotland. It shows Longfellow in a seated position, in academic robes. His head rests on his right hand, while his left holds a book. A second book is just under Longfellow's left arm.

The dedication of the statue took place on May 7, 1909. Chief Justice of the United States (and president of the Longfellow National Memorial Association) Melville W. Fuller presided over the gathering. Also present were Mr. Couper, members of the Cabinet, the associate justices of the Supreme Court, most of Longfellow's surviving relatives, and members of the public.

There was a last-minute hitch in the proceedings. Who was to unveil the statue? The organizers chose one of Longfellow's grandchildren. But then, which one? In the end, they chose Longfellow's youngest granddaughter, Miss Erica Thorp.

The memorial was then presented by the treasurer of the association, Brainard H. Warner, who read an excerpt of Longfellow’s poem “O Ship of State.” With President William Howard Taft ill that day, the memorial was accepted on behalf of the American people by Attorney General George W. Wickersham.

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band band struck up "The Star-Spangled Banner" and “America,” and another memorial enhanced the Washington landscape.