| COLUMBUS MONUMENTS PAGES |
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Indianapolis
Indiana South West grounds of State Capitol Building |
Christopher ColumbusBust |
Enrico Vittori
1920 |
500th anniversary of the
columbus discovery of america
may the genius abiding in the
italian race encourage tolerance
and acceptance of all cultures as
america's ultimate contribution to
humanity.
The origimal inscription on the pedestal linked the old country to the new: "Christopher Columbus, born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451, discovered America Oct. 12, 1492. This land of opportunity was thus donated to humanity by the perennial genius abiding in the Italian race."
Thirty-five years later, in 1955, the Indianapolis Knights of Columbus supervised the renovation of the monument to their patron. The bust was cleaned and new bronze tablets with a slightly altered inscription were placed on the base.
On 12 October 1992, Italian-Americans and Knights of Columbus gathered on State House grounds to honor the Discoverer on the Quincentenary of his first voyage. On this occasion another plaque was placed on the pedestal: "May the genius abiding in the Italian race inspire tolerance and acceptance as America's ultimate contribution to humanity."
Item Code: usin03
Added: 11 August 2003
/ Updated: 5 September 2009
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