The Fan District in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Robert E. Lee Monument
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 21, 2007
1. Robert E. Lee Monument
While most monuments contain lengthy descriptions of the subject, this monument contains only the word "Lee," a tribute to the popularity of the Civil War General.
Erected 1890 by the Lee Monument Commission.
Topics and series. This monument and memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list.
Location. Monument has been permanently removed. It was located near 37° 33.23′ N, 77° 27.608′ W. Monument was in Richmond, Virginia. It was in The Fan District. It was at the intersection of Monument Avenue and N Allen Avenue, in the median on Monument Avenue. Touch for map. Monument was in this post office area: Richmond VA 23220, United States of America.
We have been informed that this monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this memorial monument was in Central Virginia. It was also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: First Regiment of Virginia Infantry (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Richmond College (approx. 0.2 miles away); Etam Cru, Poland (approx. 0.4 miles away); 12 North Lombardy Street (approx. 0.4 miles away); Former Pepsi-Cola Bottling Plant (approx. 0.4 miles away); Maggie L. Walker Collaborative Mural (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hartshorn Memorial College (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Equal Suffrage League of Virginia (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart
this page online
More about this monument. Bronze by Marius Jean Antonin Mercie (1845-1916) is 21 feet high on a 40 foot granite and marble base. The sculpture cost nearly $17,000 and the base cost between $10,000 and $12,000. The base was designed by architect Paul Pujol and was executed by James Netherwood. The sculpture was exhibited in Paris before being dismantled and shipped to Richmond. Smithsonian Art Inventories Catalog.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Take a tour of the monuments on Americas Most Beautiful Boulevard.
Also see . . .
1. Roobert E. Lee Monument (Richmond, Virginia). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 29, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Robert E. Lee statue on historic Virginia street removed. CNN website entry (2021) (Submitted on July 29, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
3. Robert E. Lee opposed Confederate monuments. 2017 story by Lisa Desjardins on the PBS News Hour. Excerpt:
Its often forgotten that Lee himself, after the Civil War, opposed monuments, specifically Confederate war monuments, said Jonathan Horn, the author of the Lee biography, The Man Who Would Not Be Washington.(Submitted on June 11, 2020.)
In his writings, Lee cited multiple reasons for opposing such monuments, questioning the cost of a potential Stonewall Jackson monument, for example. But underlying it all was one rationale: That the war had ended, and the South needed to move on and avoid more upheaval. ...
Lee believed countries that erased visible signs of civil war recovered from conflictsquicker, Horn said. He was worried that by keeping these symbols alive, it would keep the divisions alive.Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 21, 20072. Lee on Monument AvenueThe monument to Robert E. Lee was the first and is the largest on Monument Avenue.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 21, 2007
3. Closeup of Robert E. Lee Statue
The sculptor did not use the likeness of Traveler, General Lee's horse, in his sculpture. The horse depicted here is significantly larger than Traveler.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 21, 2007
4. Lee Monument
This photo was taken from the statue of J.E.B. Stuart, also on Monument Avenue.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, February 7, 2015
5. Robert E. Lee statue
Looking toward the southeast along Monument Avenue.
circa 1916
6. General R.E. Lee Monument and V.M.I. Cadets, Richmond, Va.
The Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute (the West Point of the South) are the pride of the whole state and are ready at the call of the Governor at all times. VCU Libraries Digital Collections - Rarely Seen Richmond
By Mk17b via Wikimedia Commons (CC ), July 1, 2020
7. Robert E. Lee Monument, Defaced
Robert E. Lee Monument as it stood on July 1, 2020 after the George Floyd Protests and while awaiting the result of a court battles between the Commonwealth of Virginia who wanted to remove it, and small group of nearby residents and a descendant of the family that granted the property to the state with a legal requirement that the state display the monument here in perpetuity.
On September 2, 2021 the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that those restrictive covenants are unenforceable as contrary to public policy and for being unreasonable because their effect is to compel government speech, by forcing the Commonwealth to express, in perpetuity, a message with which it now disagrees.
On September 2, 2021 the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that those restrictive covenants are unenforceable as contrary to public policy and for being unreasonable because their effect is to compel government speech, by forcing the Commonwealth to express, in perpetuity, a message with which it now disagrees.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, February 7, 2015
8. An additional marker near Lee Marker
This concrete block found just northwest of the Lee statue along Monument Avenue reads: "Monument Avenue Historic District has been designated a National Historic Landmark. This district possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America. This grand avenue retains a unique combination of commemorative sculpture, community planning and distinctive architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 1997. National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior." and "Donated by the Historic Monument Avenue and Fan District Foundation to the City of Richmond."
via Times of Israel, 2021
9. "Former Confederate capital removes statue of Gen. Lee after years of protests"
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 7, 2026
10. Fragments from Robert E. Lee Monument Base
A museum display at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Los Angeles in 2026.
11. Museum Display Information
Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,743 times since then and 128 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 11, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5. submitted on February 15, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 6. submitted on May 10, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 7. submitted on September 2, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 8. submitted on February 15, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 9. submitted on July 29, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 10, 11. submitted on February 8, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of the monument location showing if anything remains. • Can you help?
