Restored Frederick Douglass statues returning to public display

Today, Mayor Malik D. Evans announced that several Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass statues are being returned public display after extensive repair and refurbishment. 

The statues, originally created by artist Olivia Kim for the “Year of Douglass” Bicentennial Commemoration in 2018, spent several years on display across Rochester. 

In 2023, the City of Rochester acquired 10 of the statues to ensure they remained accessible to the public. With help from Kim, the City repaired weather damage and general wear, and has begun to return them to the community.

In an effort to protect the fiberglass statues from the elements, statues will now be placed at indoor locations with one exception. Today, the City unveiled the one statue to be placed outdoors, at Aqueduct Park, at 47-59 E. Main St. This site is significant for its proximity to the Talman Building, which once housed Frederick Douglass’ newspaper operations for The North Star.

Two other statues are currently on display at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County at 115 South Ave., and the City’s Honorable Loretta C. Scott Center for Human Services at 57 St. Paul St. They are accessible to the public during normal hours of operation.

The seven remaining statues are in the final stages of repair and restoration, and will be installed at indoor locations across the city, including one in City Hall.

“The legacy of Frederick Douglass is an inspiration to us all as we work together to build a safe, equitable and prosperous future for Rochester,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “I’m pleased that these Frederick Douglass statues are returning to the community, the first of more to come.”