08/27/2026
In 1884, Dupont Circle—then known as Pacific Circle—was renamed for Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont, a Union naval commander during the Civil War. To honor him, a bronze statue of Du Pont by sculptor Launt Thompson was installed at the center of the circle.
The wealthy and influential Du Pont family were not impressed with the statue, and by 1917, they asked Congress to remove it. The statue was ultimately moved to Rockford Park in Wilmington, Delaware in 1920. In its place, the family commissioned the marble fountain we know today, designed by Henry Bacon, architect of the Lincoln Memorial, with sculpture by Daniel Chester French, creator of the Lincoln Memorial’s famous seated Lincoln. The fountain’s three figures represent The Sea, The Wind, and The Stars, all references to ocean navigation and Du Pont’s naval career. It was completed in 1921.
These two photographs show the transformation of the same space: Dupont Circle with its original monument to Admiral Du Pont around 1885, and the circle today with the fountain that replaced it. If you’re interested in learning more about Dupont Circle, Embassy Row, and DC’s hidden history, join us this Saturday (and every Saturday), August 29 at 10 AM for our Dupont Circle & Embassy Row: Architecture of Ambition group walking tour!
Citation -
• National Park Service / Kelsey Graczyk. April 2026.
• Hagley Museum and Library. Photo c.1885-1900.
Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets Dupont Circle BID
