Restoration Efforts of Iconic Statues in Washington D.C.

President Donald Trump shared visuals of the ongoing restoration of The Arts of War and The Arts of Peace statues in Washington D.C. This initiative is among several key projects he has launched since returning to office in January 2025.

Trump posted images of one of the newly regilded statues, showing scaffolding and workers diligently restoring its grandeur. He commented, ‘Taking down the scaffolding around the regilded Arts of War sculptures!’ on his platform, Truth Social.

These restoration efforts are part of a series of ambitious construction projects that Trump has initiated in the capital. These include significant work on the White House, a massive triumphal arch along the Potomac River standing 250 feet tall, and the restoration of a historic public golf course in Washington D.C. Furthermore, Trump is advancing plans for a statue garden to celebrate notable figures in American history.

The National Park Service secured a $5.1 million contract with a Maryland-based gilding studio in April, tasking them with reviving the four bronze horse statues known as the Arts of War and Arts of Peace. Federal records indicate that the restoration began in April and is projected to conclude in September.

The Arts of War statues, crafted by American sculptor Leo Friedlander, include Valor and Sacrifice. These Art Deco pieces stand at the entrance to the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Meanwhile, the Arts of Peace statues, sculpted by James Earle Fraser, feature Music and Harvest, along with Aspiration and Literature. These Neoclassical figures are positioned at the entrance to the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway.

This is a developing story. Additional updates will be provided as information becomes available.