Controversy surrounds the John Brown Gordon Statue. It stands here before you, a bronze figure astride a horse. This monument at the Georgia State Capitol honors John Brown Gordon, a Confederate general during the Civil War.
The John Brown Gordon Statue, designed by Solon Borglum, was unveiled in 1907. It depicts Gordon in his Confederate uniform, but as an elderly man, reflecting his later political career. Gordon served as both a senator and governor of Georgia after the war. He was known for his support of the Lost Cause ideology. Gordon was also associated with the Ku Klux Klan.
While the statue commemorates Gordon’s military and political achievements, it has become a source of controversy. His racist views and actions are undeniable. This makes the John Brown Gordon Statue a difficult part of Atlanta’s history.