Welcome to the George Mason Statue Exhibit
This exhibit explores the rich history and evolving significance of the George Mason statue located at the heart of George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. More than just a campus landmark, the statue stands as a powerful symbol of the university’s identity, values, and traditions. From its creation in the 1990s to its role in present-day student life, the statue reflects not only the legacy of George Mason himself—a Founding Father and author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights—but also the changing ways in which communities remember and reinterpret history.
Through this digital exhibit, you will learn about the origins of the statue, the people behind its construction, and the many ways it has been embraced by students, faculty, and alumni over time. You will also engage with themes of public memory, civic commemoration, and the complexities of honoring historical figures in modern academic spaces.
By drawing on archival materials, photographs, historical documents, and university records, this project offers an in-depth look at how one statue can capture both the ideals and the contradictions of the past—and how it continues to shape the experience of life at George Mason University today.
Credits
Abdul Bais Faqirzai