Why Dozens of U.S. President Statues Sit Deteriorating in a Rural Virginia Field?
Nestled on the outskirts of private farmland in Virginia, a peculiar and captivating sight awaits. Amongst the overgrown weeds, nearly 40 colossal busts of U.S. presidents stand in a state of decay. Weighing over 7,000 pounds each, these mammoth heads were originally created by Houston artist David Adickes as the centerpiece for Presidents Park—a ten-acre open-air museum in Williamsburg, Virginia. However, the museum’s lack of visitors led to its closure a mere six years after its opening, prompting the relocation of most of the heads to a private farm where they now reside.
Photographer Patrick Joust recently embarked on a journey to capture the haunting beauty of this presidential graveyard. His photographs reveal the statues’ gradual erosion, with faded and peeling surfaces bearing witness to the relentless forces of nature. These weathered sculptures also bear the scars of multiple relocations, showcasing their journey and the wear and tear they have endured. The resulting images evoke a sense of post-apocalyptic desolation, reminiscent of the iconic scenes from movies like “Planet of the Apes” or a contemporary interpretation of the enigmatic giant heads scattered across Easter Island.
It’s worth noting that Adickes sculpted a second set of presidential busts, which were previously on display in an outdoor park near Deadwood, South Dakota, operated by the artist himself. Following the closure of that park, the heads found new homes in various locations. For instance, Abraham Lincoln’s bust now graces the entrance of the Lincoln RV Park in Williston, North Dakota, while Theodore Roosevelt’s bust proudly stands outside the Roosevelt Inn in Watford.
The abandoned and decaying presidential busts in Virginia not only serve as a visual testament to the rise and fall of Presidents Park but also provoke contemplation about the transience of fame and the impermanence of human creations. These forgotten giants now reside in solitude, silently witnessing the passage of time. As Patrick Joust’s photographs immortalize their fading grandeur, they offer viewers a glimpse into a forgotten chapter of American history and the melancholic beauty of abandonment.
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