Have you ever passed by the bronze statue in Bedford Square, where Saint Paul Street and North Charles Street meet, and wondered, “who is that” and “why is it in Guilford?”  

Facts

The statue is of Simón Bolívar and was a gift from the Venezuelan government to the City of Baltimore in 1961. Due to its availability of parkland, the statue was sited in our welcoming community. The statue’s sculptor, Felix de Weldon, also created the famed Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, VA. Two years ago, CBS Baltimore produced a news segment on the statue, which may be viewed at https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/wheres-marty-simon-bolivar-statue/

Who is Simón Bolívar?

Simón Bolívar (1783 – 1830), known as “The Liberator” was the founding father of not just one country—but six (Bolivia, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela). He combined the military brilliance of Napoleon Bonaparte and the visionary leadership of George Washington. A paradoxical figure, Bolívar freed nearly half of South America from the grip of Spanish imperialism, only to see his dreams of a Pan-American federation collapse once he claimed dictatorial powers.

Statue Restoration

Recently, the statue had lost some of its eye appeal due to its heavy green patina caused by oxidizing conditions. The Guilford Association contacted Baltimore Heritage, who recommended a conservator to clean, wax and protect the statue.  With the help of generous donors, Guilford Association was successful in raising funds for the cleaning and restoration of the statue (see the list of contributors below).