Johns Hopkins Homewood in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Lee Jackson Monument
Reconciling History
— Baltimore's Confederate Monuments —
This monument was a gift from prominent Baltimore banker J. Henry Ferguson, who left funds in his will for the City of Baltimore to create a monument to his childhood heroes, Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Ferguson died in 1928, but due to the Great Depression and World War II, the monument was not dedicated until 1948.
Sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser, this rare double equestrian monument depicts Lee and Jackson departing for the Battle of Chancellorsville, in Virginia. These two men became subjects of the “Lost Cause” movement which portrayed them as Christian soldiers and even as men who opposed slavery. Today current scholarship refutes these claims. These larger-than-life representations of Lee and Jackson helped perpetuate the “Lost Cause” ideology, which advocated for white supremacy and portrayed slavery as benign and justified secession.
In the same period that this monument was installed, Baltimore City continued to enforce racial segregation housing ordinances and deed covenants, continued to support segregation policies in public spaces and programs, and unequally funded African American school budgets, infrastructure improvement, and public programs.
In 2015, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake appointed a Special Commission to Review Baltimore’s Public Confederate Monuments to provide recommendations based on informed decisions and citizen input on how to address Baltimore’s monuments that honor the Confederacy and the Lost Cause Movement. This commission concluded that this monument was part of a propaganda campaign of national pro-Confederate organizations to perpetuate the beliefs of white supremacy, falsify history, and support segregation and racial intimidation.
This plaque serves to inform the public on the history of Baltimore’s Confederate monuments. For more information, please review the Special Commission to Review Baltimore’s Public Confederate Monuments Report to Mayor Rawlings-Blake located at www.chap.baltimorecity.gov.
Sign content developed by the Baltimore City Commission on Historical and Architectural Preservation. Graphic design services provided by the Baltimore National Heritage Area.
Erected by City of Baltimore, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor.
Topics and series. This historical marker and monument is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Baltimore City historical markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 19.464′ N, 76° 37.194′ W. Marker was in Baltimore, Maryland. It was in Johns Hopkins Homewood. Marker was on Art Museum Drive. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Baltimore MD 21218, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Harriet Tubman Grove (a few steps from this marker); Joseph Beuys Tree Partnership (within shouting distance of this marker); Wyman Park Dell (within shouting distance of this marker); Spring House or Dairy - c. 1812 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lion (about 300 feet away); Chapin A. Harris (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Wyman Park Dell (about 500 feet away); Union Soldiers and Sailors Monument (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 562 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on May 1, 2017, by mishelle Etefania of Mexico, Mexico. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 5, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 5. submitted on August 20, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.