Queen Isabella

The Statue of Queen Isabella is an outdoor sculpture located in front of the Organization of American States building in Washington, D.C. Created by Spanish sculptor José Luis Sánchez, the work depicts the ruler of Castile wearing a crown and robes bearing the coats of arms of Castile, León, Aragon, and Navarre. In her hands she holds a large pomegranate, the symbol of Granada, with a dove at its center. The sculpture was donated in 1966 by a Madrid cultural institution to commemorate Isabella's sponsorship of Columbus's voyage. Since 2022, however, the monument has also been a target of protests by Indigenous activists who call attention to the historical consequences of colonization.