Did you know there’s a 7-ton statue of Vladimir Lenin standing in Washington State?

A 7-ton statue of Vladimir Lenin that was toppled in Slovakia during the revolution in 1989 now stands quite tall in Washington State on the corner of 3526 Fremont Pl N, Seattle Washington:

lenin_statue_large

Here’s the history of the statue according to Freemont.com:

How this rare statue came to Fremont

This cast bronze sculpture of Vladimir Lenin was created by Emil Venkov, who appears on the left, a Slavic artist who has worked in bronze for over thirty years and who is widely exhibited in Europe and the United States.

One of a kind

Weighing over 7 tons, the sculpture took ten years to complete and was installed in Poprad, Slovakia in 1988. It is unique. We believe it is the only representation portraying Lenin surrounded by guns and flames instead of holding a book or waving his hat. The sculptor, while fulfilling the requirements of his state commission, was nevertheless able to express his vision of Lenin as a violent revolutionary; not just an intellectual and theoretician.

Lewis Carpenter

An American veteran teaching in Poprad, Lewis Carpenter found the sculpture lying face down after it was toppled in the 1989 Revolution. He recognized Venkov’s skill and craftsmanship and the boldness of his portrayal, and was determined that the statue be preserved. Carpenter mortgaged his house to acquire the sculpture and brought it back to Issaquah. He died in 1994. The statue is now owned by his family. It is sited here temporarily for viewing and sale, both to fulfill Carpenter’s dream, that the work be seen and enjoyed and eventually find a permanent home and to serve as a reminder of an important historical period.

I know Washington State is progressive, but are they so progressive that they don’t mind this huge statue of Lenin standing so prominently in their midst?


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