1815Who was the creator of the first self-balanced rampant equestrian statue in the world and what was the first bronze statue cast in the United States?
In Lafayette Park, directly across from the White House, stands the world’s first self-balanced rampant equestrian statue, created by American sculptor Clark Mills to honor Major General Andrew Jackson. This groundbreaking memorial, unveiled on January 8, 1853, not only became a national icon but also marked the first bronze statue ever cast in the United States. Mills, a self-taught artist who had never before seen such a statue or even his subject, built his own foundry and completed the colossal 15-ton monument using innovative techniques learned through trial and error. The statue’s dramatic design—a rearing horse supporting its immense weight without hidden structural supports—remains a marvel of both art and engineering, drawing crowds and inspiring replicas in cities like New Orleans, Nashville, and Jacksonville.
