Statue of Christopher Columbus (San Francisco)

For over sixty years, a twelve-foot bronze statue of Christopher Columbus stood on a pedestal in the plaza near Coit Tower. Sculpted in Italy by Count Vittorio di Colbertaldo, the two-ton figure was dedicated on October twelve, nineteen fifty-seven. It was a gift to the city from the local Italian-American community, intended to celebrate their heritage and the explorer’s legacy. For decades, the statue gazed westward toward the Pacific Ocean, serving as a focal point for annual Columbus Day celebrations and community gatherings on Telegraph Hill.