Upper Falls in Rochester in Monroe County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument

Photographed By Yugoboy, October 22, 2012

1. Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker

Inscription. This plaque marks the original site of a statue erected to honor Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became a leading spokesman for the abolitionist movement. The statue dedicated in 1899 was the first in America to honor the accomplishments of an African-American statesman. The bronze statue was relocated in 1941 to a section of Highland Park now designated as Frederick Douglass Memorial Square where it remains today. On the 6th day of June, 1999 we celebrate the efforts of the dedicated committee who in 1899 were responsible for securing funds for the original monument.

The Douglass Monument Committee of 1885-1899
John W. Thompson, Chairman • Mrs. R.J. Jeffery • Henry A. Spencer, Secretary • R.L. Kent, Assistant Secretary • Hon. George A. Benton, Treasurer
Dedicated by the Friends of Frederick Douglass and the City of Rochester 1999
William A. Johnson, Jr., Mayor • Loretta C. Scott, Commissioner PRHS

The Douglass Monument Committee of 1885-1899
Ex-Congressman H.S. Greenleaf • Hon. Charles S. Baker • Bishop Alexander Walters, D.D., • N. T. Thomas Fortune, New York City • Benjamin N. Simms • E.S. Cunningham

Erected 1999 by Friends of Frederick Douglass and the City of Rochester.

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed

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in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1999.

Location. 43° 9.719′ N, 77° 36.627′ W. Marker is in Rochester, New York, in Monroe County. It is in Upper Falls. Marker is at the intersection of Saint Paul Street and Central Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Saint Paul Street. Marker is not tough to see, but generally ignored due to volume of traffic and risk of accident if too much time is spent with eyes not on the road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rochester NY 14605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Welcome to the High Falls (approx. 0.2 miles away); On this site stood the Standard Brewing Company's main Brewery Building. (approx. ¼ mile away); The Genesee Brew House Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Genesee River Gorge: 20,000 Years in the Making (approx. ¼ mile away); Genesee River Gorge: Centuries of Conflict in Pleasant Valley (approx. ¼ mile away); Schiller Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Morning of February 18, 1861 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pont de Rennes Pedestrian Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rochester.

More about this monument. The monument

Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker (continued) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Yugoboy, October 22, 2012

2. Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker (continued)

is simply a pedestal on which plaques have been placed. This symbolizes the fact that the Douglass Statue used to reside here before being moved to Highland Park.

Regarding Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument. The new location of this marker is more appropriate, as it is less than 300 yards from Douglass' primary Rochester residence on South Avenue.
The re-siting of the marker is also appropriate, because when the statue was originally placed it faced south towards the center of the city (and the North Star office site). After the unveiling, supposedly friends commented that Douglass never would have approved of his statue facing south, so at the current location, he is facing north, as he (apparently) would have preferred.

Photographed By Yugoboy, October 22, 2012

3. Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker (continued)

Photographed By Yugoboy, October 22, 2012

4. Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker (continued)

Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker in situ image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Yugoboy, October 22, 2012

5. Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker in situ

1 of 3 quote tablets on the base of the Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Yugoboy, May 6, 2012

6. 1 of 3 quote tablets on the base of the Monument

Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker as seen from the west image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Yugoboy, October 22, 2012

7. Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker as seen from the west

Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker as seen from the east image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Yugoboy, October 22, 2012

8. Original Site of Frederick Douglass Monument Marker as seen from the east

Current Site of Frederick Douglass Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Yugoboy, May 6, 2012

9. Current Site of Frederick Douglass Monument

2 of 3 quote tablets on the base of the Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Yugoboy, May 6, 2013

10. 2 of 3 quote tablets on the base of the Monument

3 of 3 quote tablets on the base of the Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Yugoboy, May 6, 2012

11. 3 of 3 quote tablets on the base of the Monument

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2013, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. This page has been viewed 763 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 6, 2013, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. 6. submitted on May 7, 2013, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. 7, 8. submitted on May 6, 2013, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. 9, 10, 11. submitted on May 7, 2013, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.