Woodrow Wilson Monument

Look for the dark bronze statue of a man standing with an outstretched arm, mounted atop a tall, rectangular light stone pedestal. You are looking at the Woodrow Wilson Monument, standing watch right outside Praha hlavní nádraží, Prague's bustling main railway station. It might seem a little surprising to find a tribute to the twenty-eighth president of the United States here in the heart of Europe. But Wilson is actually something of a national hero around these parts. After the devastation of World War One, his fierce diplomatic support for national self-determination was instrumental in the birth of an independent Czechoslovakia. He helped redraw the map of Europe, championing the right of the Czech people to have their own sovereign state. This monument, created by the Czech-American sculptor Albin Polasek, was unveiled in October 2011 to permanently honor that pivotal role. It stands as a steadfast reminder of the deep, century-old historical ties between two very different nations across the Atlantic. Take a moment to soak this in. When you are ready, we can head to the next stop.