Former President Donald Trump provided the public with a first look at the newly regilded Arts of War sculptures in Washington, D.C., as crews began dismantling the scaffolding that had covered the prominent golden monuments. Trump posted images of workers removing the structure from the sculptures, located near the Lincoln Memorial, on his Truth Social platform.
Exclusive video footage captured workers taking down the final sections of scaffolding, revealing the gilded bronze horses and figures that adorn the granite pedestals. The Arts of War sculptures stand at the eastern entrance to Arlington Memorial Bridge, just west of the Lincoln Memorial. Their companion pieces, the Arts of Peace sculptures, are situated nearby along Parkway Drive.
The restoration project is part of an ongoing preservation effort by the National Park Service. According to a 2018 study, the granite bases had developed significant purple staining due to copper runoff from the aging bronze sculptures. This prompted specialized cleaning and stabilization work in addition to the regilding.
To ensure the safety of visitors and workers, as well as to protect the historic monuments, the National Park Service temporarily closed the surrounding lawn and turf areas starting July 2. These restrictions are expected to continue through September 30, though the agency noted that areas will reopen once work no longer necessitates their closure. Sidewalks leading to the sculptures and onto Memorial Bridge remain accessible, and no road closures have been required for the project.
The parkland surrounding the sculptures will continue to have partial restrictions as crews finish the broader rehabilitation project and remove remaining construction equipment. For several months, the towering monuments were largely obscured by scaffolding, tarps, and fencing. The recent images from Trump and news footage offer a clear view of the restored sculptures, now featuring a renewed gold finish, in anticipation of America's 250th anniversary.