(Former) Robert E. Lee Monument

The former Robert E. Lee Monument in Richmond, Virginia, was the city's largest and best-known landmark for more than a century. The bronze statue, created by the French sculptor Antonin Mercié, depicted Confederate General Robert E. Lee on horseback atop a massive marble pedestal. At a total height of about 59 feet (18 meters), the monument dominated the traffic circle at the intersection of Monument Avenue and Allen Avenue, which many maps show as the center of Richmond. Construction began in the 1880s, funded by various memorial associations, and the monument was unveiled in 1890. At the time, the site was still a tobacco field, before the city grew up around the monument in the early 1900s.

The history of the monument is closely tied to the controversy over the portrayal of the Confederacy. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the statue became a focal point of protests and was covered in graffiti showing images of civil rights icons and messages of justice. The governor of Virginia ordered its removal, but this led to a lengthy legal battle. Not until September 2021 did the state's Supreme Court rule that the historical deed agreements were no longer an obstacle. Six days later, the statue was taken down and placed in the care of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.

Today, nothing at the original site recalls the monument. The pedestal was completely demolished in February 2022, so the traffic circle now appears as an open green space. During the demolition, two time capsules were discovered, containing objects from the time of the monument's construction as well as more recent artifacts reflecting the social changes of the present day. The site, once known as "Lee Circle," is now used by activists as a memorial space, particularly in remembrance of victims of police violence. The removal of the monument marks the completion of the removal of all Confederate statues on Monument Avenue.