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Taras Shevchenko Memorial

Taras Shevchenko Memorial is a historic monument in Washington, D.C., located near Dupont Circle on P Street. It consists of a bronze statue on a granite pedestal, accompanied by a commemorative stele with a relief. The memorial stands 7 meters tall and weighs 45 tons. Dedicated to Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko, it honors his major influence on modern Ukrainian literature and national consciousness. The monument was unveiled in 1964 to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth. It was designed by Canadian sculptor of Ukrainian origin Leo Mol and architect Radoslav Zuk, and is now maintained by the U.S. federal government along with the surrounding park.

Taras Shevchenko Memorial bronze statue of a man in a long coat against a blue sky
The Taras Shevchenko Memorial shows a bronze figure in a long coat against a bright blue sky.
April 2009 © · CC BY 2.0
Taras Shevchenko Memorial statue on a snow-dusted pedestal with a church tower behind it.
The Taras Shevchenko Memorial stands in front of a snow-covered church tower on a clear winter day.
February 2010 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taras Shevchenko Memorial bronze statue on a stone pedestal beside a relief stele of a chained figure breaking free.
The Taras Shevchenko Memorial features a bronze statue beside a relief stele showing a figure breaking free.
© NPS Photo · Public domain
Taras Shevchenko Memorial with a bronze statue beside a relief stele on a tiered stone base.
The Taras Shevchenko Memorial features a bronze figure standing beside a relief stele on a stepped stone base.
© · Public domain
Stone inscription plaque at the Taras Shevchenko Memorial with a carved dedication beginning \
Inscription plaque at the Taras Shevchenko Memorial in Washington, D.C.
April 2009 © · Public domain

Identification

NameTaras Shevchenko Memorial
TypeHistorical monument / memorial statue
Original-language nameМеморіал Тарасові Шевченку
Alternative nameMonumento conmemorativo a Taras Shevchenko

Historical context

Commemorative purposeMemorial honoring Taras Shevchenko and, more broadly, Ukrainian freedom, independence, and Ukrainian-American heritage
Historical significanceOne of many monuments in Washington, D.C. honoring foreign heroes who symbolize freedom in their home countries; also described as a landmark in Ukrainian-American history and a symbol of Cold War-era Ukrainian nationhood aspirations
HonoreeTaras Shevchenko (1814–1861), Ukrainian poet, artist, and national hero

Creator

SculptorLeo Mol (Leonid Molodozhanyn; Canadian-Ukrainian sculptor)
ArchitectRadoslav Zuk

Discovery and provenance

Design competitionAnnounced in late 1960; 17 sculptural designs were submitted; the committee unanimously approved the design 'Prometheus'
Soviet reactionSoviet officials initially opposed the memorial and twice asked the U.S. State Department via the UN to cancel it, but later accepted it and asked to send representatives to the unveiling
Support and controversyThe project received strong support from the Ukrainian diaspora, but The Washington Post editorial board and some officials criticized it; opponents called Shevchenko little known in America and described him as a Soviet Communist idol, anti-Semitic, and anti-Polish
FundingCost about US$250,000, paid for by the UCCA and donations from more than 50,000 people, mostly Ukrainian Americans
Committee leadershipLev Dobriansky served as president/organizer; Harry S. Truman was honorary chairman; Roman Smal-Stocky and George Shevelov were on the leadership board
Memorial committeeTaras Shevchenko Memorial Committee of America, Inc.
Initiated byExiled Ukrainians, including Lev Dobriansky and Roman Smal-Stozkyj; the idea was first begun by the Shevchenko American Society (founded 1898)
Congressional authorizationPublic Law 86-749, signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 13 September 1960, authorized construction on U.S. property in the District of Columbia

Physical characteristics

Location2200 block of P Street NW, Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C., United States
SiteA triangular site near the Ellipse in Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.
ComponentsBronze statue on a granite pedestal, with a nearby commemorative stele or wall with stone reliefs
HeightAbout 7 meters (24 feet) overall
Statue heightAbout 14 feet (4.3 meters)
Pedestal heightAbout 7 feet (2.1 meters)
Weight45 tons

Materials

Foundation additionA stainless-steel urn was later placed in the base
Statue materialBronze
Stele materialStone
Pedestal materialGranite

Appearance

Depicted formStatue of Shevchenko as a young man
Project nicknamePrometheus
SettingInstalled on a granite pedestal with a relief-adorned commemorative wall or stele nearby

Location and ownership

Current managementManaged by the National Park Service, a federal agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior
ParkThe surrounding park is maintained by the U.S. federal government and was renamed Ukrainian Independence Park in 2023
Registry listingListed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1993

History and restoration

Dedication musicThe Star-Spangled Banner, Shevchenko's 'Testament', and the Ukrainian national anthem 'Shche ne vmerla Ukraina' were performed or sung
Later commemorationsVisited by Viktor Yushchenko in 2004/2005; a prayer service was held there in 2014; flowers were laid in 2014 and 2017; a 50th-anniversary ceremony was held in 2014; activists chained the memorial in 2015
Later useThe memorial has been used for Ukrainian-American protests and celebrations, as well as by the local gay community
Dedication attendeesRepresentatives from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom attended, along with Ukrainian-American leaders and other dignitaries
Foundation contentsA stainless-steel urn containing soil from Shevchenko's grave, a memorial book, a list of major donors, and other documents were placed in the foundation/base in May 1965
Dedication attendanceAbout 100,000 people attended the unveiling, including about 35,000 people of Ukrainian descent, foreign delegations, U.S. government representatives, members of Congress, clergy, and actors
Dedication speechesEisenhower called Shevchenko a Ukrainian hero and linked the statue to freedom, anti-communism, and resistance to tyranny; other speakers included Lev Dobriansky, Roman Smal-Stocky, and members of Congress
Dedication processionA day-long procession from the Ellipse past the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue and north on 23rd Street was part of the dedication festivities
Unveiled byFormer U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dedication occasion150th anniversary of Taras Shevchenko's birth
Construction datesFoundation-laying ceremony on 21 September 1963; statue installed on pedestal on 3 June 1964; unveiled on 27 June 1964

Significance

InterpretationSeen as a symbol of Ukrainian independence, Ukrainian-American community identity, and anti-Soviet political expression
ComparisonSupporters compared the monument favorably with other Washington statues and with the Statue of Liberty
Scholarly interpretationKirk Savage described it as having 'stepped into an unpredictable future,' linking Ukrainian nationhood dreams with the realities of the American superpower