{"id":16,"featured":1,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:45:23","latitude":38.830555599999996729820850305259227752685546875,"longitude":-77.3083333000000010315488907508552074432373046875,"title":"George Mason Statue","subtitle":"Mason&#039;s Beloved Landmark","fullsize":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/abf8766b226d2faffb8787fb1d59660b.jpg","address":"","all_locations":[],"zoom":13,"creator":["George Mason University Past and Present Team"],"description":"George Mason (1725-1792) a Fairfax, Virginia planter authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Bill of Rights and Constitution, on which the United States Bill of Rights is based.  A member of the original Constitutional Convention, Mason refused to sign the initial draft of the Constitution because it did not include a Bill of Rights. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nIn 1959 the president of The University of Virginia, Colgate W. Darden, Jr, suggested that a new name be chosen for its branch college at Bailey&#039;s Crossroads. Three names were offered to faculty, staff, and students for their consideration: &quot;University College&quot; (the name it had been using since its inception in 1957), &quot;Northern Virginia College&quot;, and &quot;George Mason College&quot;. The voting ended in a virtual three-way tie, and the University&#039;s Board of Visitors broke the tie by choosing &quot;George Mason&quot; at its December meeting that year.   <br />\r\n<br />\r\nIn the late 1980s, the Student Government pointed up that GMU needed new ideas and traditions to boost school spirit and a sense of community. In February 1989 it publicly proposed erecting a statue of the school’s namesake on the quad to foster campus pride, unity and tradition. They estimated that the statue would cost between $30,000 and $50,000 and hoped that donations from student organizations would cover the costs over a five-year period. Although they made this announcement in 1989, students privately proposed the statue 2 years earlier, according to the official dedication program. Unfortunately, college students are generally not in a financial position to donate, the Student Government’s fundraising campaign was unsuccessful.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nIn 1992, the Student Government asked for assistance from Mason administrators. The Offices of the Provost and Student Affairs sponsored a competition for a nationally renowned sculptor to design the George Mason statue. It is challenging for artists to depict George Mason. The only surviving portrait of Mason shows him in his thirties and was painted nearly 20 years after his death. Out of four finalists, the students comprising the George Mason Statue Committee selected the 18-inch clay model made by Wendy M. Ross.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nRoss studied at the University of Wisconsin and the San Francisco Art Institute and later received a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. She currently maintains studios in Bethesda, Maryland, and Oregon. Ross has enjoyed a decades-long career and created sculptures for the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Capitol, and National Park Service. Her concept for the George Mason statue shows him presenting his first draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776. She visited Mason’s home, Gunston Hall to do research, and the writing table in the sculpture replicates the one in his study. The books on the table are by John Locke, David Hume, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This selection of authors reflects Mason’s philosophical influences regarding ideas of personal liberty. Ross was also selected as the sculptor for the George Mason memorial on the National Mall, dedicated on April 9, 2002.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nAfter attempts to secure public funds failed, the Arts Gala Committee, led by Joanne Johnson, commissioned the sculpture on August 1, 1995. They contributed $148,500, 93% of its $159,000 cost and presented the George Mason sculpture as a gift to the GMU community. The 10-foot-tall bronze statue was formally dedicated along with the Johnson Center on April 12, 1996. It was the first 3-D depiction of George Mason in United States history. The statue is located on the southern end of Wilkins Plaza and can be found between the Johnson Center and the Harris Theatre. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nAs the students envisioned, the George Mason statue has become a beloved landmark on campus with traditions and superstitions attached to it. It is a tradition for graduating students to get a photo with George. Student groups dress George up for festive occasions and milestones, like graduation and sporting events. He also dons t-shirts and holds signs to participate in student advocacy. Ross stated in interviews that she loves when students dress up the statue and how iconic it has become on campus. In addition, there are superstitions attached to the statue, bringing both good and bad luck. Students rub George’s left toe for good luck before important exams or papers. GMU legends say stepping on the plaques around the statue brings bad luck. If a current student does this, they will not graduate in four years, and a prospective student who does so will not be admitted to Mason.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"","lede":"Although the decision to name the University after George Mason came in 1959, the idea for a statue of him on campus was not proposed until thirty years later, in 1989. Like many celebrated traditions at Mason, the George Mason Statue started as a student initiative.","website":"","related_resources":[],"factoids":["Mason's campus in Songdo, Korea has a George Mason statue, too. Instead of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, George Mason holds a book in his hand."],"files":{"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/abf8766b226d2faffb8787fb1d59660b.jpg":{"id":204,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"George Mason statue","description":"George Mason statue by Wendy M. Ross with green and gold balloons. | George Mason University Creative Services | December 11, 2013 | Evan Cantwell","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/abf8766b226d2faffb8787fb1d59660b.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/350128c756f8611cd05423292e9eede7.jpg":{"id":196,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Wendy M. Ross with model of the George Mason statue","description":"Sculptor Wendy M. Ross smiles with her clay model of the George Mason statue. | George Mason University Photograph Collection, #R0120 Box 94, Folder 6 | October 1, 1992 | George Mason University Creative Services","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/350128c756f8611cd05423292e9eede7.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/c177f3b7715a50f2780bc72f31860fd5.jpg":{"id":178,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Clay maquette [model] for George Mason bronze sculpture","description":"Clay maquette [model] for George Mason bronze sculpture in Wilkins Plaza | George Mason University Office of the President records, #R0019 Box 74, Folder 32 | 1992 | Wendy M. Ross","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/c177f3b7715a50f2780bc72f31860fd5.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/2d698e5655c2f3659326d83780ac7f59.jpg":{"id":202,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Unveiling the George Mason statue","description":"Several individuals remove a tarp from the George Mason statue at its unveiling during the Johnson Center Dedication. | <em>Broadside</em> Photograph Collection, #R0135 Box 23, Page 67 | April 12, 1996 | Michael Tolosa","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/2d698e5655c2f3659326d83780ac7f59.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/c152876391c22bd87011b98338caf450.jpg":{"id":201,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Graduating students pose with the George Mason statue","description":"Patriots in the rain before graduation at the Mason statue. Getting a photo with the statue is a GMU tradition. | George Mason University Creative Services | May 11, 2016 | Evan Cantwell","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/c152876391c22bd87011b98338caf450.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/afad13f80d34f001c9d4784841f9c76d.jpg":{"id":197,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"George Mason statue decorated for the Final Four.","description":"George Mason statue dressed in Mason gear during the men&#039;s basketball team foray into the 2006 NCAA Final Four Championship. | George Mason University Creative Services | March 23, 2006 | Evan Cantwell","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/afad13f80d34f001c9d4784841f9c76d.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/07a0604367f9f8d16559ca8b4bbfbe08.jpg":{"id":199,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Incoming students pose around the George Mason statue","description":"Students pose with the George Mason statue during Freshman Orientation. | George Mason Creative Services | July 12, 2013 | Evan Cantwell","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/07a0604367f9f8d16559ca8b4bbfbe08.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/5c9918c08d48d04378f615fc8a2a9d60.jpg":{"id":200,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"President Ángel Cabrera rubs the toe of the George Mason statue for good luck.","description":"President Ángel Cabrera rubs the toe of the Mason Statue, a Mason tradition for good luck, as he tours the Fairfax campus with students who participate in the Class Council Association and Student Government.  | George Mason University Creative Services | September 5, 2012 | Alexis Glenn","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/5c9918c08d48d04378f615fc8a2a9d60.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/d6d4448c831f97c46c80d73c6c41152c.jpg":{"id":198,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"&quot;Don&#039;t Step on the Plaque!&quot;","description":"This image demonstrates the tradition of not stepping on the plaque next to the George Mason Statue to avoid not graduating  from the university in four years. | George Mason University Creative Services | June 5, 2015 | Evan Cantwell","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/d6d4448c831f97c46c80d73c6c41152c.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/a7e4b4bb4d80e7bf12153851550a8cbb.jpg":{"id":203,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"George Mason statue at sunset","description":"George Mason statue, by artist Wendy Ross, on the Fairfax Campus, view from the east at sunset. | George Mason University Creative Services | February 6, 2021 | Evan Cantwell","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/a7e4b4bb4d80e7bf12153851550a8cbb.jpg"},"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/original/21043371e5d6792374ed16a895476984.pdf":{"id":179,"mime-type":"application/pdf","title":"George W. Johnson Center dedication program","description":"Program for the dedication of the George W. Johnson Learning Center. It contains schedule of events for the dedication, a description of the building, a biographical sketch of George W. Johnson, a biographical sketch of George Mason, a description of the bronze George Mason statue, and information about its sculptor, Wendy Ross. Color; eight pages. | George Mason University Office of the President records, R0019 Box 79, Folder 4 | April 12, 1996 | George Mason University","thumbnail":"https://pastandpresent.curatescape6.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/21043371e5d6792374ed16a895476984.jpg"}}}