Don’t Move The Awakening

Washington, DC is a city of memorials and sculptures, most of which commemorate individuals and events in our American history. Combined with DC’s many wonderful museums and other attractions, they provide many a fine place to pause, reflect and appreciate. But far from the National Mall and well off of the beaten track, is one (or several) sculptures that serve an entirely different purpose. It is called The Awakening, and it is actually a few different pieces that together give the appearance of a buried giant that is angrily (or painfully) emerging from under the ground. I’ve always tried to make The Awakening a stop on our standard DC tour when we have guests from out of town. It’s best when they have young children, and you can set it up on the drive out to Hains Point with a tall tale about the buried giant.

Well, apparently The Awakening is about to get up and move completely. The sculpture’s owner has plans on moving it to the shopping complex he’s developing. That would be a shame. Leave the giant be.

The Hains Point Hand: Stealing Away A Public Treasure
Mark Fisher, The Washington Post, 4/25/07