Caesar Rodney Returns to Washington

June 9, 2026

Michelle Parsons, M.D., CRI Board Chair

Delaware's Founding Father Takes Center Stage as America Prepares for its 250th Anniversary

For the first time since his statue was removed from Wilmington's Rodney Square in 2020, Caesar Rodney has returned to public view in the nation's capital. 

As part of preparations for America's 250th anniversary, the National Park Service has installed Rodney's iconic equestrian statue in Freedom Plaza, just blocks from the White House and National Mall. The statue serves as the centerpiece of a temporary exhibit featuring twelve Revolutionary War soldiers whose stories represent the diverse men who fought for American independence. 

On July 1, 1776, Caesar Rodney began his legendary overnight ride from Dover to Philadelphia through rain, darkness, and poor roads Caesar Rodney - Delaware Public Archives - State of Delaware. Gravely ill and suffering from facial cancer, Rodney arrived in time to break a deadlock within Delaware's delegation and cast the deciding vote that allowed Delaware to support independence. Five days later, the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

From Rodney Square to Freedom Plaza

 

The statue now standing in Washington is the same bronze monument that stood in Rodney Square for nearly a century. It was removed by the City of Wilmington in June 2020 amid nationwide protests and debates surrounding historical monuments. Since then, the future of the statue has remained uncertain.

Today, Rodney once again stands in a place of prominence.

The National Park Service exhibit places Rodney alongside twelve Revolutionary War soldiers, including Black patriots, militia members, clergy, and Continental Army veterans whose contributions helped secure American independence. Rather than focusing on a single individual, the exhibit presents a broader picture of the people who shaped the nation's founding.

The exhibit has also renewed discussion about how Americans remember historical figures. Rodney's legacy, like that of many members of the founding generation, reflects both extraordinary achievements and the realities of an imperfect era. Rodney was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a slaveholder. Understanding both facts is essential to understanding the history of the American founding. 

Whatever one's perspective, there is little debate about Rodney's importance to Delaware history. Without his ride to Philadelphia, Delaware's vote for independence would have remained uncertain. His actions helped secure unanimous colonial support for separation from Great Britain and earned him a permanent place in the story of the American Revolution.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Caesar Rodney's return to public view serves as a timely reminder that Delaware's story remains central to the American story.

Freedom 250:Delaware's Opportunity to Tell Its Story

 

The Caesar Rodney Institute is proud to serve as Delaware's lead organization for Freedom 250 and the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. During the year-long celebration, millions of visitors are expected to visit exhibits from all fifty states, including Delaware's pavilion. CRI250 | CaesarRodney250: Honoring Delaware’s Legacy of Freedom. Preliminary renderings envision a prominent Delaware presence showcasing the First State's contributions to the founding of the nation, including the story of Caesar Rodney's historic ride. 

Freedom 250:Delaware's Opportunity to Tell Its Story

 

The Caesar Rodney Institute is proud to serve as Delaware's lead organization for Freedom 250 and the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. During the year-long celebration, millions of visitors are expected to visit exhibits from all fifty states, including Delaware's pavilion. CRI250 | CaesarRodney250: Honoring Delaware’s Legacy of Freedom. Preliminary renderings envision a prominent Delaware presence showcasing the First State's contributions to the founding of the nation, including the story of Caesar Rodney's historic ride. 

On July 9, CRI will join with Hillsdale College and other partners in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the return of Caesar Rodney's statue to Delaware's stewardship and to highlight Delaware's unique role in the American founding. 

If you plan to visit Washington during the Freedom 250 celebration, we encourage you to stop by the Delaware Pavilion and experience Delaware's remarkable story firsthand. Supporters planning a trip are encouraged to contact CRI in advance. While we cannot guarantee special access, we may be able to help visitors navigate the event and avoid some of the longer entry lines.

Most importantly, we invite you to help us tell Delaware's story to America during this once-in-a-generation celebration. Freedom 250 is being made possible through the generosity of supporters who believe Delaware's history deserves a national audience. If you would like to support the Delaware Pavilion and related Freedom 250 activities, please consider making a contribution to the Caesar Rodney Institute.

After six years out of public view, Caesar Rodney has returned to Washington. As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, Delaware once again has an opportunity to remind the nation why that ride through the night in July 1776 still matters—and why the First State's contribution to American independence should never be forgotten.