Kit Carson Removed from Pioneer Monument at Civic Center Park

By Evan Semon

Friday, June 26, 2020 at 3:53 p.m.

Evan Semón Rather than allow protesters to remove the sculpture, the city took action. 1/12

Evan Semón The statue has stood on this downtown corner since 1911. 2/12

Evan Semón Kit Carson was a compromise; the sculptor wanted to put a Native American chief on top. 3/12

Evan Semón A statue dedicated to Columbus was removed from the park this week. 4/12

Evan Semón At the Capitol across the street, the Civil War Monument was toppled. 5/12

Evan Semón Kit Carson coming down from "Pioneer Monument." 6/12

Evan Semón Kit Carson coming down. 7/12

Evan Semón The city will store this piece of the sculpture. 8/12

Evan Semón "Pioneer Monument" was commissioned in 1911. 9/12

Evan Semón The city took down part of the statue on June 26. 10/12

Evan Semón The top of the fountain is now empty. 11/12

Evan Semón Bystanders cheered the removal of Kit Carson. 12/12

Kit Carson Removed from Pioneer Monument at Civic Center Park

Denver commissioned "Pioneer Monument," a statue commemorating the state's early days, over a century ago. The piece comprises four main sculptures — the Hunter, the Prospector, the Pioneer Mother and, on top, Kit Carson on horseback. Sculptor Frederick MacMonnie's original design had a Native American chief atop the fountain, but citizens protested; Carson was the compromise. But because he's since become a controversial figure, city crews removed the Carson portion of the statue on June 26 for safekeeping.

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