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Admiral David G. Farragut

Admiral David G. Farragut is a statue in Washington, D.C., honoring David Farragut, a career military officer who served as the first admiral in the United States Navy. Located in the center of Farragut Square, the monument was sculpted by Vinnie Ream and dedicated in 1881 in a large ceremony attended by President James A. Garfield, members of his cabinet, and thousands of spectators. It was the first monument erected in Washington, D.C., to honor a naval war hero. The bronze statue rests on a granite base and was cast from the bronze propellers of the USS Hartford. It is one of the Civil War monuments in Washington, D.C., listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Admiral David G. Farragut statue in bronze with a green patina, holding a telescope against a blue sky.
The Admiral David G. Farragut Memorial in Washington, D.C., shown with its bronze figure and decorative base details.
June 2012 © Daderot · CC0
Admiral David G. Farragut statue atop a tall stone pedestal with naval decorations in a park setting.
The Admiral David G. Farragut Memorial rises above the surrounding park with a bronze figure atop a tall pedestal.
© NPS Photo · Public domain
The Admiral David G. Farragut statue stands on a tall stone pedestal beside two small mortars, with a domed building in the background.
Admiral David G. Farragut statue on its tall pedestal, with mortars at the base and a domed building behind it.
1908 © · No restrictions
Admiral David G. Farragut statue with naval decorations at the base and an American flag nearby.
Admiral David G. Farragut statue decorated with naval elements, with an American flag nearby.
1924 © National Photo Company Collection · Public domain
Admiral David G. Farragut statue on a stone pedestal in a park setting with trees, fencing, and buildings behind it.
The Admiral David G. Farragut monument stands on a stone pedestal in Farragut Square, framed by trees and nearby buildings.
© · Public domain

Identification

TitleAdmiral David G. Farragut
Common nameMonument to David Farragut
TypeStatue

Historical context

SubjectDavid G. Farragut
Honoree descriptionU.S. Navy admiral and Civil War naval hero; first admiral in the United States Navy
Commissioned byUnited States Congress
Competition announced1875
Creation periodSix years

Creator

ArtistVinnie Ream
Artist descriptionFemale sculptor; a young woman at the time
Notable worksStatue of Abraham Lincoln; several statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection

Discovery and provenance

Modeling periodReam worked on the statue for several years after receiving the commission; she consulted Virginia Farragut and had begun a bust of Farragut before the competition concluded
Casting locationWashington Navy Yard
Bronze sourceThe bronze propellers of USS Hartford
Award$20,000
Selection outcomeVinnie Ream's model was officially selected after George M. Robeson initially opposed the result and later relented
Competition backgroundNathaniel P. Banks introduced the congressional resolution soon after Farragut's death in 1870; it required the statue to be modeled from life
Rejected competitorsHoratio Stone, J. Wilson MacDonald, Randolph Rogers, and Edward Watson
SupportersUlysses S. Grant, David Dixon Porter, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Virginia Farragut supported Ream's design
Selection processA congressional committee held a competition after rejecting an initial preference for Horatio Stone; thirteen artists submitted models, and the final selection was made by Virginia Farragut, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Secretary of the Navy George M. Robeson

Physical characteristics

Object heldTelescope held with both hands
Additional bronze useThe bronze was enough to cast the statue and four mortars at the corners of the base
InscriptionFARRAGUT
Base dimensionsHeight, length, and width are not specified
Statue dimensionsHeight, width, and length are not specified
Contents inside baseA box containing documents related to Farragut's career, a history of the sculpture, a copy of the Army and Navy Register, and a bronze model of the propeller used to cast the statue and mortars
AttireMilitary uniform
Base formSquare, three-tiered base with tooled mortars at each corner
Base materialRockland, Maine granite
SupportMounted on a pedestal
MaterialBronze statue on a granite base
Statue poseStanding on the deck of a ship, facing south toward the White House, with his right knee bent and right foot resting on a capstan

Appearance

Non-equestrian statusOne of the few Civil War monuments in Washington, D.C. that is not an equestrian sculpture
Comparison to other monumentsUnlike most Civil War monuments in the city, it was not cast from enemy cannon

Location and ownership

OwnershipNational Park Service
Managing agencyNational Park Service, a federal agency of the Department of the Interior
MaintenanceNational Park Service
SurroundingsFarragut Square is bordered by K Street to the north, I Street to the south, and 17th Street NW on the east and west
FenceA small ornamental iron fence surrounds the base
OrientationAligned with Connecticut Avenue; the statue faces the White House
Site historyFarragut Square was renamed in Farragut's honor shortly after his death
LocationCenter of Farragut Square, Washington, D.C., United States

History and restoration

MusicJohn Philip Sousa directed the Marine Band, which played a march and "Hail to the Chief"
Completion noteThe homes around the square were decorated with bunting, streamers, and flags for the dedication
Acceptance speechGarfield said the nation accepted the statue and would guard it as Farragut had guarded his country
SpeakersSecretary of the Navy William H. Hunt, President James A. Garfield, Horace Maynard, and Senator Daniel W. Voorhees
PrayerReverend Arthur Brooks delivered the opening prayer
SaluteSeventeen-gun salutes were fired from nearby Lafayette Square before and after speeches
Original planned dedication dateMarch 4, 1881
Military escortThe procession was led by Commodore Charles H. Baldwin
UnveilingUnveiled by Quartermaster C. B. Knowles and Boatswain James Wiley, veterans of Farragut's Hartford crew
Dedication ceremonyAn extravagant ceremony attended by President James A. Garfield, Lucretia Garfield, cabinet members, Virginia Farragut, Vinnie Ream, Grand Army of the Republic members, fellow sailors, and nearly 4,000 invited guests
Construction urgencyLieutenant Richard L. Hoxie and a crew worked day and night to prepare the site in time
Installation timingThe statue and base were erected just hours before the dedication ceremony
Base arrival dateApril 20, 1881
DedicatedApril 25, 1881 at 1:00 p.m.

Significance

Historical significanceFirst monument erected in Washington, D.C. in honor of a naval war hero
Historic register listingCollectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 1978 as one of the Civil War monuments in Washington, D.C.
District listingIncluded in the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites on March 3, 1979
Related ensembleOne of the eighteen Civil War monuments in Washington, D.C.