Tech Investors Plan Large-Scale Statues Across US, Signaling Potential Shift in National Monuments
A group of Republican-aligned tech investors are reportedly pursuing the construction of several large-scale statues across the United States, projects that some observers suggest reflect a desire to redefine American iconography.
Among the projects in development is a proposed 450-foot statue of the Greek god Prometheus on Alcatraz Island, spearheaded by Bitcoin mining enthusiast Ross Calvin. Calvin is seeking to have Alcatraz reclassified as a national monument to facilitate construction of the $450 million, nickel-bronze alloy statue, which would be visible throughout the Bay Area. Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale is also commissioning sculptures with “classical aesthetics,” including a bust of Bari Weiss displayed at the University of Austin, which he co-founded. Angel investor Elad Gil has launched Monumental, a project aimed at financing the construction of statues inspired by global structures like Aztec temples and the Great Wall of China, while Mo Mahmood intends to build a 650-foot statue of George Washington, with a 50-foot version planned for unveiling on July 4, 2026.
These efforts come as former President Donald Trump has already allocated $40 million to build a National Garden of American Heroes, featuring over 250 statues, and has reportedly proposed a triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. Lonsdale, who identifies as a “classical aestheticist,” is a backer of the National Monuments Foundation, led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., a former Trump appointee to the US Commission of Fine Arts. The rise of privately funded, large-scale monuments could challenge traditional approaches to public art and historical representation. Gil, speaking on the podcast “My First Million” last year, stated his goal is to build statues that are “an ode to the future,” mirroring what he believes civilizations at their peak historically did.
Officials have not yet commented on the specific proposals, but the projects are expected to face logistical and regulatory hurdles. The potential for these statues to reshape the American landscape and influence national narratives is already generating discussion among historians and cultural commentators; you can learn more about the history of American monuments at the National Park Service and the evolving debates surrounding them here.
Representatives for Calvin, Lonsdale, Gil, and Mahmood have indicated they will continue to pursue their respective projects, with further details expected in the coming months.
