Bringing the War Horse Back to the Front

By Charles McGuigan 03.2020

After standing sentry for more than twenty years near the front entrance of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (formerly the Virginia Historical Society), “The War Horse”, a bronze sculpture, was unceremoniously removed from its perch last May. Created by English sculptor Tessa Pullan, the statue features an emaciated, riderless horse, paying tribute to the more than one and a half million horses and mules that were killed in combat during the Civil War. It is now hidden from public view in the rear of the museum. 

Through efforts spearheaded by animal lover and photographer Rebecca D’Angelo, upward of 1,700 people have signed a petition for the return of the War Horse to its original place, facing Arthur Ashe Boulevard. In the petition, Rebecca wrote of the equestrian statue, “though a monument to Civil War horses, [it] is truly a monument to all the beasts of burden that die doing the human race's ugly work of war.”

For more information, contact Rebecca D’Angelo at 804-874-9709, or dangelorvarealtor@gmail.com