A new open-air exhibition in Washington, D.C., called the "Spirit of '76," is placing long-overlooked Revolutionary War figures at the center of America's 250th anniversary celebration. The temporary installation at Freedom Plaza, commissioned by President Donald Trump, features 22 statues and sculptural works that honor everyday citizens who made extraordinary sacrifices during the fight for independence.
Rather than beginning with well-known Founding Fathers such as George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, the exhibition's designer, Matthew Taylor, chose to introduce visitors to Caesar Rodney, a Delaware statesman whose legendary overnight ride helped secure the Declaration of Independence. According to Taylor, Rodney rode roughly 80 miles through a storm while suffering from severe illness to cast a tie-breaking vote for independence in July 1776. The bronze equestrian statue of Rodney, which previously stood in Wilmington's Rodney Square before being removed in 2020, now occupies a prominent spot blocks from both the White House and the Capitol.
Surrounding Rodney's statue are bronze figures representing 12 Revolutionary War soldiers. These sculptures celebrate ordinary individuals rather than famous generals, telling stories that reflect the sacrifices of the Revolutionary generation. Among them is Samuel Whittemore, who fought British troops at age 78, was bayoneted multiple times, shot in the head, and left for dead before surviving into his 90s. Another figure, Simon Knowles, enlisted at just 15 years old and served alongside George Washington throughout much of the war before returning home to farm. Taylor noted that these stories convey the exhibition's central message: honoring ordinary Americans who did extraordinary things.
A separate installation addresses one of the Revolution's lesser-known tragedies. The Prison Ship Martyrs memorial is designed so visitors walk through narrow bronze panels that recreate the outline of a British prison ship. According to the National Park Service, nearly 12,000 Americans died aboard prison ships during the Revolutionary War, a number that exceeds combat deaths. Taylor explained that the memorial aims to immerse visitors in the experience, with the sound of water from a recently restored fountain surrounding the space.
Towering above the entire exhibition is the Spirit of Liberty, a new 23-foot bronze figure inspired by iconic American monuments. The statue holds an exact bronze replica of the Declaration of Independence in one hand and raises a sword skyward with the other. Reliefs around its base depict three defining moments of the Revolution: the signing of the Declaration, George Washington crossing the Delaware River, and the British surrender at Yorktown. Taylor described the statue as representing the sacrifices that gave birth to the nation.
The exhibition, unveiled as part of America's semiquincentennial and intended to celebrate the enduring "Spirit of '76," has drawn visitors who gather to photograph the statues against the Washington skyline. Taylor, whose career has largely focused on behind-the-scenes historical design, said the exhibition is about more than commemorating famous names. It aims to remind Americans of the ordinary people whose courage and determination shaped the country's founding.
