Confederate Statue of Gen. Albert Pike Reinstalled in D.C.

A statue of Confederate General Albert Pike, which was brought down by protesters in 2020 following George Floyd’s death, has been reinstalled in Washington, D.C., over the past weekend.

This 11-foot statue, resting on a 16-foot granite pedestal, was a target for protesters who viewed it as a representation of systemic racism and the Confederacy. On June 19, 2020, during the Juneteenth celebrations—marking the end of slavery in the U.S.—the statue was vandalized, toppled, and set aflame amid a nationwide outcry for racial justice.

After five years in storage, crews returned it to its pedestal near Justice Square on Saturday. You could spot it at Northwest Third Avenue and D Street, which, I think, makes a statement in a city still grappling with its history.

This restoration effort ties back to a 2020 executive order from then-President Donald Trump. The directive aimed at enhancing the beauty and safety of Washington, D.C. by protecting historic buildings that were damaged during the protests while also preserving American heritage and opposing “revisionist movements.”

Pike, who was a Confederate general in the Civil War and an associate justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court, is portrayed in his Masonic garb in the statue, which includes a double-breasted vest and a long coat. In his right hand, he extends an arm, while he holds what seems to be his book, titled “The Morals and Doctrine of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry,” in his left hand.

Funded by the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, this statue was erected in 1901 to honor Pike’s contribution to Masonic scholarship. According to the National Park Service, the decision to restore the statue adheres to federal law and policy aimed at historical preservation.

In a statement, the agency mentioned, “On August 4, 2025, the National Park Service announced plans to repair and reinstall the statue that was damaged during the Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020.” It seems like this is part of a broader commitment to beautify the capital.

However, not everyone is on board with this decision. Democratic Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton has been vocal against the statue’s restoration, arguing it’s a slap in the face to the minority communities in the District. She characterized Pike as a disgraceful figure who took up arms against the U.S. and was, in her words, “the worst Confederate figure.” Norton believes such statues should find their place in museums rather than in public spaces.

In an attempt to permanently remove the statue, she introduced a bill in August that would allow the Secretary of the Interior to donate the statue to a museum.