General Nathanel Greene by Night

The statue of General Nathanael Greene is the main feature of the traffic circle on South Greene and McGee Streets. The monument appears to have gotten some new lighting and greenery. When the sun sets behind the statue, the display can be dramatic and colorful. However, at night, when the sky fades to black and lighting illuminates the scene, the effect is equally beautiful. It is as if the greenery at the base makes the marble pedestal and the patina of the statue even more prominent.

The 22-foot statue, sculpted by James Barnhill, was dedicated ten years ago, in 2008. During the American Revolutionary War, General Greene led troops in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. While the results of the battle were not favorable for Green and his men, it weakened the British and helped result in America winning the war. Indeed, Greensboro's namesake looks majestic on the 10 ft pedestal standing guard at the south end of the city.*

*if you like learning about commemorative landscapes of North Carolina, explore this site, hosted by UNC. See, here, for a very different view of the statue, not long after it was installed.

Comments

[Lowell]

Why is it that we put up so many statues of military people and hardly any of people who really work hard to make the world a better place - educators and artists and environmentalists? Just wondering. How many men died to "weaken the British"?

[William Kendall]

Quite striking at night. He was quite a resourceful commander.