NPS to Restore and Reinstall Albert Pike Statue

The National Park Service (NPS) plans to restore and reinstall the statue of Confederate General Albert Pike in Washington, D.C., which was toppled and set on fire during the 2020 George Floyd protests. The statue, authorized by Congress in 1898 and dedicated in 1901, primarily commemorates Pike's role in Freemasonry. The restoration effort aligns with recent executive orders from former President Donald Trump aimed at protecting and restoring federal monuments as part of depicting a full and accurate history of the United States. Restoration and site repairs are expected to be completed by October 2025. Local officials, including D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, have renewed calls for the statue to be relocated to a museum rather than reinstalled in public, reflecting continued debate over historical representation. The NPS asserts that the move follows federal historic preservation law and recent guidelines on monument restoration.