Wilmington Relocates Historic Garfield Statue to Ohio
The city moved the century-old statue to Hiram, Ohio, to create more public gathering space.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Wilmington officials have successfully relocated a historic James A. Garfield statue to Hiram, Ohio. The city plans to use the site where the statue stood since 1918 as a new community space for local residents.
Why it matters
The relocation allows Wilmington to reclaim public space while returning the statue to a location with historical significance to the former president. Officials noted the statue lacked a direct connection to the city.
The city paid $21,500 for the relocation, with costs shared between the mayor's office and Shané Darby's office. The statue, sculpted in the 1890s, now sits in front of Hiram Village Hall.
The players
Shané Darby
She is a local official whose office contributed one-third of the total cost for the statue relocation.
Delaware Historical Society
This organization provided the necessary contacts to help the city find a new, historically relevant home for the statue.
The details
The Delaware Historical Society assisted the city in identifying a suitable new home for the zinc statue. By moving the monument, Wilmington officials aim to clear the north city site for a new public gathering area.
Timeline
James A. Garfield attended Hiram College from 1851 to 1854.
The statue was originally sculpted during the 1890s.
The monument stood in north Wilmington starting in 1918.
The relocation to Hiram, Ohio, was finalized in October 2026.
Culture Shift
This move highlights a growing trend among local governments to repurpose public land by removing monuments that lack a specific tie to their jurisdiction. It reflects a shift toward prioritizing functional community space over the maintenance of legacy statues.
Residents in north Wilmington will soon see the vacant site transformed into a new designated gathering area for the community. This change repurposes land that had been occupied by a statue for over a century.
The takeaway
Communities can repurpose underutilized monuments to create more meaningful and accessible spaces for current residents. Careful coordination with historical organizations ensures that moved artifacts still find homes where their history is appreciated.
Further reading
Learn more about local Financial Aid programs available to residents.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News Journal.
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