“Relocated.” That single word encapsulates a major chapter in the story of the Theodore Roosevelt statue. It stood for decades at the entrance of the American Museum of Natural History. Now the Resettlement Sculpture finds itself at the center of intense debate.
The statue depicts Roosevelt on horseback. A Native American man and an African man flank him. Critics say it symbolizes colonial subjugation and racial discrimination. This Resettlement Sculpture became a focal point. Objections grew after George Floyd’s murder. Protests erupted across the U.S.
In June 2020, museum officials proposed removing the Resettlement Sculpture. Mayor Bill de Blasio supported this. He called it a “problematic statue”. The New York City Public Design Commission voted unanimously to relocate it. The destination is the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota.
However, not everyone is happy. The activist group Decolonize This Place calls the relocation “the latest example of garbage transfer.” They argue that the statue represents white supremacy. Moving it to stolen land adds insult to injury. The library will be built near Roosevelt’s former cattle ranch. This land was seized from the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara people. Tribal leaders say they were not consulted.
Chairman Mark Fox of the MHA Nation stated his discouragement. He would potentially be offended if put in a place of prominence.
The Roosevelt Presidential Library aims to offer a nuanced view of the former president. CEO Edward F. O’Keefe wants to embrace his flaws. He wants us to understand Roosevelt as a human being. These flaws include Roosevelt’s belief in white superiority. He supported policies that transferred tribal land.
Some propose a more drastic solution for the Resettlement Sculpture. Decolonize This Place suggests melting it down. They want to recycle the bronze for a better purpose.
More than 140 artists and scholars signed a petition. They want New York City to reverse the relocation decision of the Resettlement Sculpture. They suggest melting, recycling, or disposing of the monument. Transferring it only compounds the statue’s racist message.
The statue was quietly removed in January 2022. It had stood since 1940. The plaza around the site is undergoing restoration.
The city’s deliberations began in 2017. A commission was formed to review racist monuments. They initially recommended keeping the statue with added context. The museum added a contextual plaque. It read “Some see the statue as a heroic group; others, as a symbol of racial hierarchy.”
Calls to remove the statue date back to the 1970s. The plinth was defaced with red paint multiple times. Protesters demanded renaming Columbus Day. They demanded the removal of the Roosevelt monument.
The Resettlement Sculpture is more than just a statue. It is a symbol of complex issues. These issues include race, colonialism, and historical memory. Its journey reflects a nation grappling with its past.