Christopher Columbus Statue Boston North End

The Christopher Columbus statue was acquired by The Friends of the Christopher Columbus Committee. It was installed in the park on October 21, 1979. The park was also renamed from Waterfront Park to Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park on that day. It received support from several Italian-American interest groups.

Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park landmark in Boston’s North End.

The statue was purchased from Benedetti Bonnati, a marble supplier in Italy. It was carved by a group of sculptors in Carrara, Italy. The statue sat atop a granite pedestal that honors donors and the Italian-American families in the North End at the time. The pedestal was made by Andrew J. Mazzola Monumental Works in Norwood. This artwork did not go through the Boston Art Commission’s standard accessioning process.

Individuals have vandalized the waterfront park monument at least five times since 2004. The most recent act of vandalism was on June 9, 2020. On that day, the statue’s head was forcibly detached and damaged. The City removed the statue on June 11 and placed it in storage.