Skip to main content

Where to find DC’s original tribute to George Washington

Before the Washington Monument, D.C. paid tribute to America’s founding father with an approximately 20-foot-tall statue in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood — approved way back in 1783.

In Thursday’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax heads to Washington Circle to the lesser-known, original sculpture of the nation’s first president.

The statue depicts Washington riding his horse into the heat of conflict on the front lines at the Battle of Princeton, and it has a historical lore that goes beyond its forgotten nature.

This is Part 1 in a new series from Matt where he’ll be exploring lesser-known Revolutionary War sites around the nation’s capital!

Related stories

Hear “Matt About Town” first every Tuesday and Thursday on 103.5 FM!

“Matt About Town” is now also on YouTube. Follow @WTOPNewsDC and @TheMattAboutTown to subscribe and get the latest episodes wherever you are!

If you have a story idea you’d like Matt to cover, email him or chat with him on Instagram and TikTok.

Check out all “Matt About Town” episodes here!

Read part one for more Easter eggs at the Jefferson Memorial.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Why preserving Shakespeare is still important today

Follow WTOP’s Matt Kaufax as he explores hidden gems, local landmarks and unique stories across the D.C. area every week. New episodes of WTOP's "Matt About Town" segment are released each Tuesday and Thursday. Why Shakespeare? The answer to that question is a deeper one than you think. Over the past two weeks on "Matt About Town," WTOP's Matt Kaufax took you behind the scenes at D.C.'s Folger Shakespeare Library — with videos looking at the earliest published collections of William Shakespeare's most famous plays, the library's rare vaults where these works are stored, and even how these books are preserved.
Read Next Story