Buncombe County commissioners are expected to vote Monday on the future of the Vance Monument. [6] The inscription on the plaque reads: ZEBULON BAIRD VANCE The United Daughters of the Confederacy paid for the monument but did not own the land. We still have control. More:Boyle column: With Vance monument teardown, it's time to listen The building of that railroad up to Swannanoa Gap stands out as one of the most monumental engineering feats in American history. History of the monument Constructed in 1897 at the west end of what is now Pack Square Park, the Vance Monument commemorates the life of Zebulon B. Vance, U.S. The whole square, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Vance Monument honors Zebulon Vance, North Carolina's governor during the Civil War and U.S. In addition, the task force will identify and recommend African Americans to honor the local history of Asheville-Buncombe County and develop an inclusive community engagement plan focusing on those most harmed or negatively impacted by the Vance Monument. The 65-foot granite obelisk in Pack Square is arguably the most central and recognizable location in the city. The joint city-county Vance Monument Task Force, after conducting two virtual town halls and four education sessions and receiving over 700 public comments, recommended removal of the statue with an 11-1 vote. Biltmore House architect Richard Sharp Smith, who succeeded Richard Morris Hunt in 1895, designed the monument, basing it on the Washington Monument. The monument is named after Buncombe County native and Civil War governor Zebulon Baird Vance, who was also a slave owner. Vance Monument, where the George Floyd protests in Asheville have begun, has been tagged by demonstrators with the words "Black lives matter" and other messages, but remains in place. Originally, only the word "Vance" appeared on each side. Vance Monument Proposal. The cornerstone dedication was held on December 22, 1897 in a ceremony conducted by the North Carolina Grand Lodge of Masons, with more than 70 Freemasons present. African American convicts worked to build the 1870s Swannanoa Train Tunnel. This statue of Zebulon Vance was given to the National Statuary Hall Collection by North Carolina in 1916. Members held discussions in recent months on whether to repurpose, relocate or remove the monument, which was built in 1890s in honor of Civil War-era governor and slave owner Zebulon Vance. The Zebulon Baird Vance Monument is a monument in Asheville, North Carolina, United States honoring Zebulon Baird Vance. The Vance Monument is history too. World renown architect Richard Sharp Smith, who was the supervising architect for the Biltmore House, was commissioned to design and construct the Vance monument. Rentals Rent our facility. Monument Dedication and Unveiling. For Educators Resources for educators Browse lesson plans and resources for learning. Senator during the Reconstruction period. This pioneer farmstead, tucked in the Reems Creek Valley, features the birthplace of Zebulon Baird Vance. ASHEVILLE, NC (WPSA) – A task force has voted to remove the Vance Monument from downtown Asheville. I’ll just cover its history briefly here. It has stood for over a hundred years. 1938, Vance owned slaves, and during the Reconstruction era he opposed allowing African Americans to have equal rights. George Willis Pack donated $2000, or two-thirds of the cost. A 2015 North Carolina law would not permit this action unless the monument were privately owned, and city attorney Brad Branham said it was not clear who owned the monument and additional research was needed. Prior to the start of restoration, the time capsule placed under the monument in 1897 was removed. After being arrested at the end of the war and being briefly imprisoned, he returned to his law practice. Removing or re-contextualizing the Vance monument has been on Ashevillian agendas for years, and this week’s protests have sparked renewed discussion on the topic. Buncombe County officials voted this month to remove the Zebulon Vance Monument from Pack Square Park in Asheville, and the Asheville City Council voted … The vote comes after protests over the last two week surrounding a monument in honor of Zebulon Baird Vance, a Confederate military officer, North Carolina governor and U.S. senator. This is actually a well-known monument which has been amply covered in the pages of the Vance Family Association newsletters since at least 1989. Biltmore House architect Richard Sharp Smith, who succeeded Richard Morris Hunt in 1895, designed the monument,[3][4] basing it on the Washington Monument. This file contains additional information such as Exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. 23w. What do you think should be done, if anything, with the Vance Monument? By Staff Reports / January 13, 2021 . "[6] N.C. Zebulon Baird Vance Monument; Metadata. [2] The location of the obelisk is present-day Pack Square, on land owned by the city of Asheville. Vance Monument: Neat history in town - See 64 traveler reviews, 13 candid photos, and great deals for Asheville, NC, at Tripadvisor. 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