Up ahead on your left, look for the towering white marble figure standing atop a tall, fluted limestone column decorated with carved stone ropes near its base. This is the Christopher Columbus Memorial, standing right outside the New York State Supreme Court in Columbus Park. If you check your screen, you can see how it commands the plaza. This piece was a tag-team effort. The pioneering sculptor Emma Stebbins carved the statue itself out of Italian marble, while architect Aymar Embury II designed that impressive limestone pedestal. A wealthy merchant named Marshal O. Roberts donated the whole thing, which was mighty generous considering shipping a giant block of Italian marble across the Atlantic is no small feat. Stebbins was actually one of the first notable American female sculptors, bringing a unique flair to public monuments in a field that was largely dominated by men. The park area around the statue is open daily from six in the morning until one in the morning if you ever want to come back. Take your time admiring the intricate stonework. Whenever you are ready, we will head over to our next stop.
