Equestrian statue of George Washington (Washington Circle)

Lieutenant General George Washington
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites
Statue of George Washington in 2013
Location	Washington Circle, Washington, D.C.
Coordinates	38°54′8.45″N 77°3′1.08″W / 38.9023472°N 77.0503000°W / 38.9023472; -77.0503000
Built	1860
Architect	Clark Mills
NRHP reference No.	American Revolution Statuary (78000256)[1] L'Enfant Plan (97000332)[2]
Significant dates
Designated CP	July 14, 1978 (American Revolution Statuary) April 24, 1997 (L'Enfant Plan)
Designated DCIHS	March 3, 1979 (American Revolution Statuary) April 24, 1997 (L'Enfant Plan)

Lieutenant General George Washington is an 1860 equestrian statue of George Washington, at Washington Circle, at the edge of the George Washington University's campus, in Washington, D.C. The statue was sculpted by Clark Mills, who also created the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson in front of the White House. The traffic circle where the statue is located was one of the original city designs by Pierre Charles L'Enfant. The statue and surrounding park are in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood at the intersection of 23rd Street, New Hampshire Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The K Street NW underpass runs beneath the circle.

The idea of honoring George Washington, the first U.S. president, one of the Founding Fathers, and military leader of the American Revolutionary War, was first authorized by the Congress of the Confederation in 1783. Despite periodic calls for the erection of a statue honoring Washington, nothing happened until future President James Buchanan made inquiries into why the statue was never installed. Congress authorized the statue and its installation in 1853 at a cost of $50,000, which was later increased to $60,000. Mills' original design included a three-tier pedestal with intricate designs. Due to a lack of funding, that was never built. The final product was a marble pedestal that is somewhat simple. The horse's design was praised, but Washington's portrayal was frowned upon by critics.

The unveiling and dedication ceremony occurred in February 1860, not long before the American Civil War began. The keynote speaker at the ceremony, U.S. Representative Thomas S. Bocock, would become Speaker of the Confederate States Congress within a year. Amongst the notable attendees at the event included the president, the vice president, members of the Supreme Court, and members of the Senate. The event was delayed due to weather, but a half-mile long (0.8 km) procession marched from the District of Columbia City Hall to the statue. Many of those who marched were active members of the military and veterans.

The statue was almost moved twice to Lafayette Square to be replaced with the Mills' statue of Jackson. It was repaired in the 1920s and moved in the 1960s when the underpass beneath Washington Circle was built. The statue is one of 14 American Revolution Statuary that were collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites. The statue is also a contributing property to the L'Enfant Plan, listed on the NRHP in 1997.