Standing in front of you at the south entrance of Colton Chapel, you’ll spot a proud, life-sized bronze statue of a young man in an 18th-century uniform, with one hand resting casually on his sword and his gaze fixed confidently ahead-just look for the figure standing tall atop a square pedestal near the stone walkway.
Before you stands the Statue of the Marquis de Lafayette, as grand as the stories they tell about him-take a moment to imagine a brisk November day in 1921, the air full of excitement and chatter as crowds gather for the statue’s dedication. Now, picture Daniel Chester French, the famous sculptor known for epic monuments like the Lincoln Memorial, proudly unveiling his work. With Lafayette’s sword drawn and chin lifted, French captures the energy of a “youthful soldier”-and let’s be honest, this guy looks ready to jump off his pedestal and give a history lesson.
But here’s a twist worthy of a plot in a Netflix special. Back in 1885, French actually tried to win a national contest to make a Lafayette statue for Washington, D.C.-but, to his disappointment, the honor went to two French sculptors from France (honestly, a little on the nose, isn’t it?). Still, French never gave up on Lafayette. Fast forward a few decades, and he creates a plaster model for a Lafayette Memorial in Brooklyn. When Lafayette College needed a statue of their heroic namesake, French was happy to donate that original mold.
With the help of a persuasive alumnus-think of him as the original college fundraiser extraoridnaire-a generous Philadelphian named Morris L. Clothier stepped up to bring Lafayette to life in bronze. The statue was cast by Gorham, one of the most famous foundries in America, and placed atop a dignified pedestal designed by none other than Henry Bacon, the architect behind the Lincoln Memorial. Suddenly, French got a second chance at Lafayette glory, and this time, he landed it at the very college that bears the Marquis’s name.
The dedication was legendary. Distinguished guests filled the quad: the governor of Pennsylvania, a Supreme Court justice, the state’s attorney general-even the donor himself, who was given an honorary degree on the spot. Imagine it: solemn speeches, applauding crowds, and the shimmering sound of a new fountain burbling nearby as the sun lit up the bronze.
And like Lafayette himself, who traveled across seas to fight for American freedom, this statue has weathered time-thanks to a big makeover in 2007. The college celebrated Lafayette’s 250th birthday by adding a new plaza, benches, and that same sparkling fountain. The quote carved on the base sums up the Marquis’s spirit: “I read, I study, I examine, I listen, I reflect and out of all this I try to form an idea into which I put as much common sense as I can.” Let’s hope he didn’t lose all his common sense on the battlefield!
So, as you stand in front of Lafayette’s steady gaze, try to imagine the echo of old speeches and cheers bouncing off the stone. This statue isn’t just a tribute-it’s a bridge across centuries, a reminder that history’s heroes still have stories worth telling.
