Where Is The Statue Of Edmund Kirby Smith

David Muir

2 min read

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02-01-2025

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The question of the location of a statue of Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith is surprisingly complex, and the answer isn't a simple one. This is due to several factors, including the controversial nature of the figure himself and the ongoing debates surrounding Confederate monuments in the United States.

The Lack of a Widely Recognized Statue

While there may be smaller, less publicized representations of General Smith, there is no widely known or prominent large-scale statue dedicated to him that is readily accessible to the public. Unlike some other Confederate generals, Smith doesn't have a major monument readily identified in historical records or readily visible in public spaces.

Why the Absence?

Several reasons contribute to this lack of a prominent statue:

• His Relative Obscurity Compared to Other Confederate Leaders: While a significant figure in the Confederacy's Trans-Mississippi Department, Smith's fame doesn't reach the level of figures like Robert E. Lee or Stonewall Jackson. His contributions, though substantial, are less frequently highlighted in popular narratives of the Civil War.

• Post-War Condemnation and Shifting Public Opinion: The post-Civil War period and subsequent years saw a decrease in public celebration of Confederate figures. The rise of the Civil Rights Movement and a renewed understanding of the Confederacy's role in perpetuating slavery further diminished the public acceptance of Confederate monuments. The lack of public support would have discouraged the erection of a large, prominent statue.

• Challenges in Securing Funding and Public Support: Even if there had been an attempt to erect a statue, the necessary funding and public support might have been difficult to secure, given the changing social climate.

Potential for Smaller Representations

It's possible that smaller busts, portraits, or less prominent memorials of Edmund Kirby Smith exist in private collections or within smaller, possibly less-accessible historical societies or museums. However, locating these would require extensive historical research.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while definitive proof of the absence of any statue is difficult to provide without exhaustive research of private collections, no major, publicly accessible statue dedicated to Edmund Kirby Smith is currently known to exist. The lack of such a monument likely reflects a confluence of factors including his relative obscurity compared to other Confederate leaders, changing public attitudes towards the Confederacy, and difficulties in securing support for a monument to a controversial figure.