In front of the Ludington Library sits a peculiar statue: a bust of a man with a sharp upturned nose and a slightly open mouth, as if catching his breath mid-speech. The statue, which was a metallic bronze when it was created 70 years ago, has turned an oxidized teal over the decades. Its deterioration mirrors the reputation of the man it depicts: Christopher Columbus, a once celebrated explorer whose legacy is now sparking debate. 

Two years ago, another Columbus statue in Marconi Plaza, Philadelphia became the center of controversy and conflict. According to NBC Philadelphia, on June 13th, 2020 (in the midst of the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s murder) a group of armed men surrounded the statue after rumors circulated online that it was going to be taken down.

Counter-protestors clashed with the group, leading the city to cover the sculpture with a plywood box until a decision was made. The statue remains covered in Marconi Plaza, and legal battles to remove it are still ongoing. 

The statue in front of Ludington Library has not been as publicized. The sculpture itself is not even immediately recognizable as Christopher Columbus. The artist, Giuseppe Donato, intentionally sculpted his statue to share little physical resemblance with Columbus, “a symbolic interpretation of all his theories [in finding America],” said Donato to the Main Line Times in 1952. 

Recently, the Ludington Library has received requests for removal regarding Donato’s statue of Columbus. The President of the Ludington Library Board of Trustees, Gregg Adelman, said that these letters and emails, though the Library has received very few, have all been sent within around the past six months. 

In an interview conducted over email, Mr. Adelman wrote, “There have been a few people who have expressed a desire to see the statue removed, while there have been a couple of people who have expressed a desire to see the statue remain. The Ludington Board is in the process of discussion [on] options regarding the Columbus Statue, but the Board has not made any final decisions yet.” 

Lower Merion Township began discussing the statue’s future in October 2021. Five months later, decisions are still being made. According to Adelman, many factors are being taken into account, such as the history and age of the statue in addition to the public’s opinion.

Meanwhile, the solemn bust continues to slowly lose its once-metallic shine.