Thomas Paine Monument

What it is

The Thomas Paine Monument in New Rochelle, New York, is dedicated to Paine's memory. The original marble pedestal was erected in 1839, funded by public subscription organized by Paine's biographer Gilbert Vale and built by sculptor John Frazee. A bronze bust by sculptor James Wilson Alexander MacDonald was added in 1899. It is the oldest surviving memorial to Paine.

Why it matters

Paine died largely shunned because of his controversial religious writings. This monument, raised decades later by admirers and freethinkers, shows an early effort to restore his reputation as a Founding Father. The monument's history of vandalism and repair also reflects how divided opinion about Paine remained for generations.

Look closer

• Why might it have taken decades after Paine's death for a monument to be built in his honor?
• What does the damage and later repair of the monument suggest about how people felt about Paine?
• Who paid for this monument, and what does that tell you about who wanted to remember Paine this way?