Statue of Matthias W. Baldwin

Matthias W. Baldwin was an American manufacturer and inventor who worked in Philadelphia during the 1800s.[1] While working at a manufacturing firm, he became interested in steam engine technology and, in 1832, he designed and built one of the first successful American steam locomotives, which was nicknamed Old Ironsides.[1] Following this, his company, the Baldwin Locomotive Works, became one of the world's largest locomotive manufacturers.[2][3] Baldwin was also a philanthropist who helped finance the construction of several churches in the city and donated to the Franklin Institute to promote mechanical arts.[2] Baldwin was also an proponent of abolitionism and an advocate for increased rights for African Americans, such as the right to vote,[4] and in 1835, he established a school in Philadelphia for African American children.[2] He died in 1866.[5][3]

In April 1903, the Committee on City Property of the government of Philadelphia reported positively on a bill that would allow the Fairmount Park Art Association to erect a statue of Baldwin on Spring Garden Street, just east of its intersection with Broad Street,[6] which would be owned by the city.[3][note 1] The statue would be located in a small park at the intersection,[8][9] facing the office building of the Baldwin Locomotive Works.[10][5][11][12][9] In May, the Select Council of the City of Philadelphia voted unanimously in favor of the bill,[13] which was signed into law by Philadelphia Mayor John Weaver on June 15.[14] The statue was to be donated to the Fairmount Park Art Association by the firm of Burnham, Williams & Company,[3] which was the current operators of the Baldwin Locomotive Works.[10][11] The firm commissioned Herbert Adams, a sculptor based out of New York City, to design the statue,[3][10] which was completed and donated to the art association in 1905.[3] On April 17, 1906, the statue was hoisted onto a pedestal at the park by several men, selected from a group of 50 who traced their employment at the locomotive works back to before Baldwin's death.[9][note 2]

The statue's dedication on June 2, 1906

The statue was formally dedicated on June 2, 1906,[10][5] a Saturday,[11] in a ceremony organized by the art association.[12] Presiding over the ceremony was William P. Hensey, the head of the locomotive works, who introduced the speakers, and the statue was officially unveiled by F. T. Sulley-Darley, a daughter of Baldwin.[12] The statue was given to the city by John A. Converse, an associate of the business firm, who gave a speech honoring Baldwin in which he quoted John Milton, saying, "Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war".[12] The statue was accepted by Mayor Weaver on behalf of the city, who also gave a speech honoring Baldwin and his contributions to the city.[16] Leslie W. Miller, the secretary of the Fairmount Park Art Association, also spoke at the ceremony, and after all of the speeches had concluded, George Burnham, an 80-year-old employee of the works who had been working there since 1835, was introduced to the audience.[17] Following the dedication, the locomotive works issued a commemorative 20-page pamphlet on the ceremony that included multiple images of the sculpture and celebrations and transcripts of all speeches given.[9][15]

In 1921, the statue was relocated to the northwest corner of Philadelphia City Hall property.[3][18] A second move occurred in 1936,[19] and today the statue is located at City Hall's North Plaza, near Broad Street and Market Street.[3]

Around June 10, 2020,[note 3] during the George Floyd protests in Philadelphia, the statue was defaced with paint, with the words "colonizer" and "murderer" spray painted on its pedestal.[22] The statue was one of several works of public art vandalized during the protests, which included the statue of Frank Rizzo, also located outside of the city hall, and a monument to soldiers and sailors who fought in the Union Army during the American Civil War.[23][22]