Equestrian of Simón Bolívar is a public artwork by American artist Felix de Weldon. The monument is located at Virginia Avenue NW, 18th Street NW, and C Street NW near the United States Department of Interior and the Pan American Union building of the Organization of American States. Equestrian of Simón Bolívar was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1993. The monument is an equestrian statue of the Venezuelan military and political leader Simón Bolívar.
The statue shows Simón Bolívar riding his horse with his proper right arm raised over his head. In that hand he wields his sword, holding it upwards. He wears a military uniform with great detail, including the gold medal that was once George Washington's. The sculpture sits on a base made of granite or marble (142 in. x 72 in. x 184 in., 8 tons).
The sculpture is signed: Felix W. de Weldon / Arch. Faulkner, Kingsbury & Stenhouse
The front of the base is inscribed with:
SIMON BOLIVAR
THE LIBERATOR
BORN JULY 24 1783
CARACAS VENEZUELA
DIED DECEMBER 17 1830
SANTA MARTA COLOMBIA
The east side of the base is inscribed with:
THE REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The west side of the base is inscribed with:
LIBERATED VENEZUELA COLOMBIA ECUADOR PERU BOLIVIA AND PANAMA
Equestrian of Simón Bolívar was authorized by the United States Congress on July 5, 1949 and permitted the piece to be installed on public property on June 29, 1955. The sculpture was donated by and installation paid for by the Venezuelan government.
The sculpture was cast in New York and parts were broken down in order to be transported via highway to Washington. The head, neck and rider were disconnected to make it under the overpasses along the highways.