A tangible link to the American Revolution still stands in Lower Manhattan’s Bowling Green Park. Whereas today it’s a peaceful public space, the park was once the site of a dramatic act of defiance against British rule.
A Statue Brought Down
On July 9, 1776, following the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Fresh York City, a crowd of patriots descended upon Bowling Green. Their target: a 4,000-pound equestrian statue of King George III, erected just six years prior.
Under the cover of darkness, the statue was pulled from its pedestal and toppled. The crowd didn’t stop there; they tore the statue apart and paraded what they believed to be the king’s head through the streets. The lead from the statue was melted down and repurposed into musket balls for the Continental Army.
Fragments of History
While much of the statue was transported to Connecticut, pieces disappeared along the way, scattered across the landscape. Fragments began to resurface over time, discovered by farmers and in homes throughout the region. A 20-pound piece was even found in Wilton, Connecticut, in the 1970s by a metal detectorist named Louis Miller.
Today, a fragment believed to be part of the king’s cape is housed at the Museum of the City of New York.
The Fence Remains
The iron fence surrounding Bowling Green also bears witness to this history. Damaged during the same night the statue fell, its decorative finials—some said to resemble crowns—were knocked off. The fence itself survived for over a century, even being partially relocated to Central Park around the time of World War I, before being reinstalled at Bowling Green in 1938.
As Sarah Henry, co-director of the Occupied City Project at the Museum of the City of New York, noted, the fence at Bowling Green is a rare exception: “So little of the environment of the revolutionary period survived in New York… It’s something we can actually make a pilgrimage to.”
Looking Ahead
The Museum of the City of New York, along with the Gotham Center for New York City History, will be presenting “The Occupied City: New York and the American Revolution” on May 1, 2026. Visitors interested in learning more can also visit the Wilton Historical Society in Connecticut.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the king’s head after it was paraded through the streets?
The king’s head was reportedly recovered by American soldiers, then taken back by the British.
When was Bowling Green established as a park?
Bowling Green was designated as a park in 1733.
What is the significance of the fence at Bowling Green?
The fence is considered the oldest in New York City and provides a tangible connection to the Revolutionary era.
Considering the enduring presence of these historical artifacts, what does it signify to encounter physical remnants of the past in a modern urban landscape?
