A federal restoration plan is officially underway to return the bronze statue of Confederate Brigadier General Albert Pike to its former place at Judiciary Square in Washington, D.C. The monument had been toppled and set ablaze during the June 2020 protests sparked by George Floyd’s death.
The National Park Service confirmed the work aligns with historic preservation responsibilities and new executive directives calling for the reinstatement of previously standing federal statues. Restoration is taking place at the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center, with efforts focused on cleaning corrosion and repairing the stone base.
Officials are targeting October 2025 for completing the reinstallation. The Pike statue is notable for being the only outdoor Confederate monument in the nation’s capital before its removal.
The move comes under authority of recent executive orders instructing agencies to “beautify the nation’s capital” and restore a broader view of American history. While supporters argue the statue holds historical significance, critics—including local leaders—have vowed to push legislation to remove and relocate it to a museum.