For over a century the Robert E. Lee Monument, the first installation on Monument Avenue in 1890, held this spot until its removal in 2021. For over a century it honored Confederate General Robert E. Lee, shown on horseback atop a large marble base that stood over 60 feet (18 m) tall. The figure was constructed in France and shipped to Virginia, and it remained the largest installation on Monument Avenue for more than a hundred years.
It was recognized on the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2006 and first listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020 this controversial monument was vandalized in graffiti, and many activists called for its removal. Governor Ralph Northam ordered the statue removed on June 4, 2020, but that order was blocked by a state court pending a lawsuit.
The state court ruled in Northam’s favor in October 2020, though the decision was put on hold pending appeal; the Supreme Court of Virginia heard oral arguments in June 2021 and ruled on September 2 that restrictive covenants from 1887 and 1890 were no longer enforceable. The monument was ultimately removed on September 8, 2021. Monument Avenue and the space that remains stretch out before you.