The Trump administration has announced a major initiative to honor American heroes ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday. A new National Garden of American Heroes will showcase sculptures of 250 prominent historical figures, celebrating their lasting impact on American history and culture.
The National Endowment for the Humanities revealed on Thursday it will award grants for artists to create life-size statues of figures such as George Washington, Patrick Henry, Davy Crockett, and Clara Barton. Each American citizen artist may receive up to three grants of $200,000, with the statues crafted from marble, granite, bronze, copper, or brass.
The project, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, will dedicate $34 million to the construction of the garden. According to Acting Chairman Michael McDonald, the garden aims to offer the public “a deeper understanding of how the lives and accomplishments of these individuals have shaped our history and culture.”
Originally proposed by President Trump in 2020, the project was halted during the Biden administration but is now moving forward. A specific location for the garden has not yet been selected.
The list of honorees includes a diverse range of Americans who significantly contributed to the nation’s legacy. Figures selected span from founding fathers like John Adams and Pilgrim leader William Bradford to modern icons such as astronaut Neil Armstrong and country music legend Johnny Cash. War heroes like Civil War soldier Joshua Chamberlain and World War II General Douglas MacArthur also feature prominently.
The National Garden of American Heroes intends to be a place for Americans to gather, reflect, and celebrate the country’s history and those who shaped it. The administration emphasized that it would highlight the battles won, ideas championed, lives saved, and hope passed down through generations.
