EXCLUSIVE: Beneath a 23-foot bronze statue lifting the Declaration of Independence skyward, designer Matthew Taylor paused at another monument — an equestrian tribute to a Revolutionary-era patriot many Americans may not recognize by name.
“Most Americans have never heard of Caesar Rodney,” Taylor told Fox News Digital during an exclusive walkthrough of the new Spirit of ’76 exhibition at Freedom Plaza. “But we owe this man an enormous debt of gratitude.”
The temporary display, launched in connection with America’s 250th anniversary celebration, has turned Freedom Plaza into an outdoor showcase dedicated to Revolutionary War figures whose stories are often overshadowed in traditional history lessons.
Commissioned by President Donald Trump, the exhibition brings together 22 statues and sculptural works. Among them are a restored equestrian monument of Rodney, a dramatic “Spirit of Liberty” centerpiece, bronze depictions of Revolutionary soldiers and an immersive memorial dedicated to Americans who died aboard British prison ships during the war for independence.
The National Park Service says the installation was created to recognize the “heroes and martyrs of the Revolution” during the nation’s semiquincentennial, while celebrating the lasting “Spirit of ’76” that it says still lives “in every American heart.”
Key features of the exhibition include the Caesar Rodney equestrian statue, the “12 Soldiers of the Revolution,” the Prison Ship Martyrs memorial and the 23-foot Spirit of Liberty statue.
But instead of opening the tour with familiar founders such as George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, Taylor began with Rodney — a deliberate choice meant to spotlight a lesser-known figure whose actions helped change the course of American history.
Rodney, a Delaware statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence, is best remembered for a dramatic overnight ride from Dover to Philadelphia in July 1776. Gravely ill and facing punishing weather, he traveled about 80 miles through a storm to cast the decisive vote that broke Delaware’s deadlock and backed independence.
“Of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Caesar Rodney is one of the most exciting,” Taylor said. “When Delaware’s delegation was deadlocked, he rode through the night to cast the vote that helped secure American independence.”
For decades, the bronze statue stood in Wilmington’s Rodney Square before being removed in 2020. It now occupies one of the most prominent locations in the nation’s capital, just blocks from both the White House and the Capitol.
From Rodney’s ride, Taylor naturally guides visitors into the next chapter of the American story.
Arranged around the plaza are bronze sculptures representing 12 Revolutionary War soldiers. Rather than depicting famous generals, the statues celebrate ordinary Americans whose individual stories reflect the sacrifices of the Revolutionary generation.
“These are ordinary citizens who did extraordinary things,” Taylor said. “Every one of these statues tells the story of someone who answered the call during the Revolution.”
Among them is Samuel Whittemore, who fought British troops at age 78. According to Taylor, Whittemore was bayoneted multiple times, shot in the head and left for dead before surviving and living into his 90s.
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Another figure, Simon Knowles, enlisted at just 15 years old and served alongside George Washington throughout much of the Revolutionary War before returning home to live as a farmer.
Taylor said those stories represent the exhibition’s central message.
“Unlike monuments to George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, these statues honor ordinary Americans who did extraordinary things,” he said.
Nearby, another installation tells one of the Revolution’s lesser-known tragedies.
Designed as visitors physically walk through its narrow bronze panels, the Prison Ship Martyrs memorial recreates the outline of a British prison ship. According to the National Park Service, nearly 12,000 Americans died aboard prison ships during the Revolutionary War; even more than were killed in combat during the conflict.
Taylor said the memorial is meant to immerse visitors in that experience.
“As you walk inside, you hear the water from the fountain,” he explained during the tour. “It helps place you inside the story.”
The fountain itself has also become part of the experience. Taylor noted it was recently restored to operation after years of sitting idle, providing the soundscape surrounding the memorial while complementing the plaza’s redesign.
Towering above the entire exhibition stands the Spirit of Liberty, a new bronze figure inspired by iconic American monuments while looking toward the country’s next 250 years.
Standing 23 feet tall, the statue holds an exact bronze replica of the Declaration of Independence in one hand while raising a sword skyward with the other. Around its base are reliefs depicting three defining moments of the Revolution: the signing of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington crossing the Delaware River and the British surrender at Yorktown.
“The Spirit of Liberty represents the sacrifices that gave birth to this nation,” Taylor said.
During Fox News Digital’s visit, visitors gathered around the plaza to photograph the statues against the Washington skyline. Low-angle views of the bronze figures framed them against bright summer skies, while Rodney’s horse appeared frozen mid-stride as though continuing the historic ride that helped shape the nation’s founding.
For Taylor, whose career has largely been spent both behind the camera and behind the scenes designing historical works, the exhibition is about more than commemorating famous names.
Instead, he hopes visitors leave thinking about people they had never encountered before arriving at Freedom Plaza.
“When visitors leave here,” Taylor said, “I hope they realize they can do extraordinary things themselves. America was built by ordinary citizens who answered extraordinary moments.”
The Spirit of ’76 exhibition is free to the public and is scheduled to remain on display throughout the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
