Statues in Los Angeles aren't the permanent fixtures many assume. They move, disappear, and are sometimes even vandalized, creating a surprisingly fluid and fragmented public art landscape. Attempting a comprehensive census of the city’s civic statues – those rendered in metal or stone – proves remarkably difficult.

A History of Disappearance and Damage

Los Angeles has seen statues with missing parts. The statue of silent film star Rudolph Valentino once lost its nose, while Florence Nightingale’s statue in Lincoln Park, a 1936 gift from a local hospital support group, was stripped of its hands. Nearby, Parque de Mexico features numerous empty pedestals, once occupied by statues of Mexican heroes including a general, a poet, two presidents, and revolutionary Pancho Villa.

Motives Behind the Vandalism

The reasons for this treatment are varied. Some acts are attributed to simple vandalism or destructive envy. Others are driven by the potential profit from selling the metal. In some cases, a figure’s reputation leads to removal, as seen with recent allegations surrounding César Chávez.

Recent Removals and Controversies

Within 90 minutes of the San Fernando City Council voting to remove its César Chávez monument following allegations of sexual abuse, the statue was taken down. This followed a similar, though lengthier, process with a statue of explorer Christopher Columbus, which was removed from Grand Park in 2018 after years of advocacy from Native American groups.

The Last Explorer Standing

Today, Leif Erickson’s bust in Griffith Park remains as the sole European claimant to discovering North America among L.A.’s statues. Donated 90 years ago by the Nordic Civic League, its plaque proclaims his arrival in America in the year 1000.

A Legacy of Neglect and Displacement

The statue of Polish merchant Haym Salomon experienced a similar journey, moving four times between 1944 and 2005 due to vandalism. This highlights a broader issue: a lack of consistent funding and responsibility for maintaining the city’s statues. For years, Los Angeles readily accepted donated statues without securing funds for their upkeep.

MacArthur Park's Troubled Statues

MacArthur Park is a prime example of this neglect. The Prometheus statue has lost its globe and toes, and was even adorned with a meth pipe by guerrilla artists. The Otis trio, commemorating Los Angeles Times founder Harrison Gray Otis, has seen a bronze soldier and a newsboy stolen, the latter taken on March 25, 2024, by a group resembling civic workers.

Other Disappearing Acts

The statue of Ninomiya Kinjiro in Little Tokyo has lost its explanatory plaque, and many statues of women, like Amelia Earhart and the Lady of the Lake, have suffered damage or required restoration. One notable piece, “The Family Group” by Tony Rosenthal, originally installed near the old LAPD headquarters, faced criticism and nearly being melted down in 1955.

A Question of Preservation

The frequent removal, damage, and displacement of L.A.’s statues raise questions about the city’s commitment to preserving its public art. The lack of a central agency responsible for their care, coupled with limited public funding, leaves these monuments vulnerable to the elements, vandalism, and ultimately, disappearance.