For anyone who has ever encountered this strange sculpture at Hains Point in Washington DC it always takes a few minutes to take it all in. If you weren't excepting to see a giant emerging from the earth it can be a real surprise. Kids love it and tourists spend a lot of time photographing the sculpture.
Now "The Awakening" is leaving and moving across the Potomac River to a new home in Prince Georges County at the new mega National Harbor development. Even though I write quite a bit about DC and Northern Virginia history I was surprised to learn that the statue has actually been on loan to the National Park Sevice. Since it has been at Hains Point since 1980 it never crossed my mind that it was a permanent fixture.
So starting tomorrow they will be digging up our quirky sculpture and by the end of the week he will be in his new home. I wish him well in his travels and look forward to visiting him on the other side of the river.
More pictures of "The Awakening"
Comments(16)