A Statue of Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont: Maybe Not Such a Great Idea After All
In 1881, then Secretary of State James G. Blaine, an early Dupont Circle resident, was complaining about the poor condition of Dupont Circle park (known then as Pacific Circle) and was pushing to have it cleaned up. The park had fallen into generally bad condition, with its concrete walks needing to be replaced and the lawn to be re-sodded. The wooden fence around the park needed replacing, and the open area was in need of trees and flowers. Blaine also thought that the circle could benefit from a fountain or statue of some sort. He actually suggested moving the Bartholdi fountain from the Capitol grounds to the circle, claiming it had attracted a lot of attention at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia but hardly any since its arrival in Washington. But the assassination of President Garfield distracted Blaine from his improvement project for the circle.
In 1883, Congress appropriated $13,700 for a bron…
