Statues Regilded in Washington
Iconic Washington Horse Statues Undergo Gold Makeover Following Trump's Regilding Announcement
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Two iconic gold equestrian statue pairs near Washington's Lincoln Memorial are getting a full gold makeover after President Trump announced they would be "regilded." The statues, known as "The Arts of War" and "The Arts of Peace," are now coated in 23.75-karat gold leaf — the most thorough restoration they have received since the 1970s. WCAX reports that the surrounding area has been temporarily closed to visitors during the work.
The National Park Service says the project is expected to run through September 30. Trump celebrated the work on Truth Social in late July, posting photos of the gleaming surfaces with the caption: "Taking down the scaffolding around the regilded Arts of War sculptures!"
Statues' History: From Milan to the Mall
The four bronze sculptures were cast in Milan, Italy, and installed in 1951. They flank the approaches to the Arlington Memorial Bridge and Rock Creek Parkway. Sculptor Leo Friedlander created "The Arts of War" — two statues called "Valor" and "Sacrifice." James Earle Fraser made "The Arts of Peace" — "Music and Harvest" and "Aspiration and Literature." Each statue weighs roughly 80,000 pounds, according to Hawaii News Now.
The statues were originally fire-gilded, meaning gold leaf was fused to the bronze surface. Decades of D.C. weather wore the gold away, leaving the statues patchy and greenish. Copper runoff also stained their granite bases purple. Their last major regilding was in 1971–1974. Minor touch-ups in 1984 and 2005 did not hold.
$5.1 Million Contract Awarded at More Than Double the Estimate
The National Park Service awarded a $5.1 million contract to Maryland-based The Gilders' Studio, Inc. in April 2026. That figure is more than double the NPS's own internal estimate of $2.4 million. The contract was fast-tracked as a "negotiated acquisition" — meaning it skipped full competitive bidding. The special notice was posted on SAM.gov for just six days, severely limiting other firms' chances to bid.
The Department of the Interior framed the project as urgent, citing the need to beautify Washington ahead of America's 250th anniversary in 2026. The DOI even used Gen Z slang on social media, saying they were "auramaxxing Washington, D.C." The phrase drew swift mockery online, according to WECT.
Park Entrance Fees Diverted to Fund D.C. Beautification
The regilding is part of a broader $95 million makeover of Washington landmarks launched between December 2025 and April 2026. Between $67 million and $76 million of that spending came from national park recreation fees — money collected from entrance passes at parks across the country. Critics say this drains funds from a massive maintenance backlog at rural and smaller national parks, according to KCRG.
Other projects in the same spending push include $13.1 million to paint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool blue. Supporters say the spending honors the artists' original vision and prepares the nation for a grand celebration. Critics call it a misuse of public funds that benefits one city at the expense of parks nationwide.
Work Ongoing as September 30 Deadline Approaches
Trump had initially promised the statues would be fully finished by July 3. That deadline was missed. By late July, only the "Arts of War" pair had its scaffolding removed. The "Arts of Peace" statues were still under wraps, according to WSMV. The NPS now projects the full project — including granite base restorations — will wrap up by September 30.
The unusually thick layer of 23.75-karat gold leaf used on the statues is purer than the gilding recently applied to the Wyoming state capitol dome. Preservationists warn that pure gold leaf is susceptible to weathering, meaning the NPS could face steep recurring maintenance costs for years to come, according to WBNG.
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