Everyday Revolutionary War heroes take center stage in Trumps Spirit of 76 exhibit

EXCLUSIVE: Beneath a towering 23-foot bronze figure holding the Declaration of Independence aloft, designer Matthew Taylor stopped beside an equestrian statue that many Americans have likely never seen, or even heard of.“Most Americans have never heard of Caesar Rodney,” Taylor told Fox News Digital during an exclusive tour of the new Spirit of ’76 exhibition at Freedom Plaza.“But we owe this man an enormous debt of gratitude.”The temporary installation, unveiled as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, transforms Freedom Plaza into an open-air gallery honoring Revolutionary War figures whose names rarely appear in history textbooks.Commissioned by President Donald Trump, the exhibition features 22 statues and sculptural installations, including a restored equestrian monument of Rodney, a towering “Spirit of Liberty” centerpiece, bronze figures representing Revolutionary soldiers, and an immersive memorial honoring Americans who died aboard British prison ships during the Revolution.According to the National Park Service, the exhibit was created to honor the “heroes and martyrs of the Revolution” during America’s semiquincentennial and is intended to celebrate the enduring “Spirit of ’76’ that continues to live on in every American heart.” The centerpiece installations 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.Rather than beginning with George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, however, Taylor chose to introduce visitors to Rodney.The Delaware statesman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is remembered for his legendary overnight ride from Dover to Philadelphia in July 1776.

Suffering from severe illness, Rodney rode roughly 80 miles through a storm to cast the vote that broke Delaware’s deadlock in favor of independence.“Of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, C...