Introduction:
Throughout the semester, we have learned about many different individuals and monuments that commemorate their achievements. Some of them are still revered as good people, while many of them are not. However, very few of the monuments we have centered on have been dedicated to African Americans. That begs the question, when did black Americans start to get represented in monument creation, and who was the first to be memorialized? The answer to that question is Dr. George Washington Carver, and his national monument that was founded in 1943. This miles-long memorial is a perfect preservation of the world Dr. Carver grew up in, as well as a commemoration for his many contributions to the world. It is a huge representation of how selfless acts for the good of mankind should always be remembered.
Who Was Dr. George Washington Carver?
Dr. George Washington Carver was a renowned African American scientist who was responsible for transforming agriculture in the southern US. Born as a slave orphan in 1864, he was raised by the people who owned his mother, Moses and Susan Carver and given their surname. Since slavery was abolished shortly after his birth, Carver would eventually leave his home to pursue an education. He eventually got accepted to Highland College in Kansas but was immediately turned away due to the color of his skin. He also fled a small town in Kansas after witnessing the lynching of a black man. In 1886 he purchased a farm in Ness County where he performed his first agricultural experiments, and in 1894 he graduated from Iowa State with a major in agriculture. Out of the 300 attendees, he was the only black student, but was welcomed, nonetheless. After receiving his master’s degree, Carver was invited to work with Booker T. Washington (One of the country’s most famous African American educator, author, and civil rights activist) at the Tuskegee Institute, where he dedicated his life to assisting the American former-slave population in becoming self-sufficient through farming. Throughout his career, Carver’s contributions to agriculture were breathtaking. He developed 300 peanut products and 100 sweet potato products, including beverages, paints, axle grease, and medicine. He also advocated for using peanuts as a replacement for soil-depleting cotton in southern fields. By the time WWI ended, Carver, now Dr. Carver or “The Plant Doctor” was a legend. He died in 1943 and was buried at Tuskegee next to Booker T. Washington. Carver’s gravestone read,
He could’ve added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.
“George Washington Carver scientist botanist, people” by PICRYL. Available under CC0 1.0
Designing the Monument:
The George Washington Carver National Monument was built directly after Dr. Carver’s death, to commemorate his overall brilliance. Established by Franklin D. Roosevelt himself, who dedicated $30,000 to its creation, the memorial is in Newton County, Missouri and stretches 240 acres long. It was created by the National Parks Service, who began staffing the memorial and 1952 and officially opened it in 1953. Preserved on the site are the 1881 Moses Carver house, multiple statues dedicated to the Doctor, and the Carver cemetery. Also included are the prairies, woodlands, and rolling hills that Carver grew up on, and a 3/4-mile nature trail coupled with a museum and interactive exhibit area. Due to the site’s multiple inclusions, there are a few designers involved in the monument’s creation, which has been added to overtime. Audrey Corwin sculpted Carver’s bust statue in 1952, and Robert Amendola sculpted the Boy Carver statue in 1961. Additionally, the nature trail featured in the monument was developed by the Anacostia Community Museum in the 1990’s, and Moses Carver himself built the 1881 house. The National Parks Service observes and maintains the entire monument and puts up a wall around the Carver cemetery (including Moses and Susan Carver, the people who raised him, some of their neighbors, and a few unmarked graves) to prevent animals from getting to it. The 1881 house is different than the one George Washington Carver grew up in, as that house, a log cabin house, was supposedly destroyed by a tornado in 1880. The goal of the entire monument is to commemorate Carver’s groundbreaking contributions to agriculture and education, as well as pay tribute to his innovative spirit and dedication to farming. The whole monument is a section of the National Parks Service, who takes care of it year-round.
“Carver Family Cemetery – National Parks Gallery” by PICRYL. Available under CC0 1.0
“File: George Washington Carver National Monument – 50332318796.jpg” by Wikimedia Commons. Available under CC0 by Public Domain.
“File: George Washington Carver National Monument – 50318788678.jpg” by Wikimedia Commons. Available under CC0 by Public Domain
Cultural Significance of the Memorial:
This was the first monument to commemorate an African American, and the first monument not dedicated to a President. All 240 acres are dedicated to Carver’s life and contributions to the world, as well as to his impact on other black Americans, particularly those in the rural south. Carver’s beliefs in perseverance, self-sufficiency, and resilience are highly evident with this memorial, as it reflects his desire to understand racial divides. The hope of this monument is to inspire other people into following in the doctor’s footsteps and changing the world. It is also one of the few monuments that encompasses an entire park to highlight the connection between nature and the person being represented. The entire site is a place for learning and reflection and has been that way for generations.
Public Perception:
Despite this monument commemorating a black man, there is little evidence of initial opposition to its construction. Carver was an international star by the time he died, and this monument was built directly afterword. Public admiration has only grown as time went by. For decades now, the George Washington Carver National Monument has been a place of pride and inspiration for people across multiple ethnicities. It is also a great place to celebrate George Washington Carver Day, a special holiday on January 5th dedicated to the man himself. Lana Henry, a ranger within the National Parks Service describes the monument’s environment as,
…Beautiful for people of all ages, all generations, a place to rejuvenate. To stand in awe of nature. To be inspired by Dr. Carver’s story.
George Washington Carver Day is one of the monument’s biggest attendances and has never failed to educate individuals of the kind of person the Plant Doctor was. Even outside the parks service, hundreds of volunteers come and help with different events, embracing the spirit of compassion. Other people who work at the monument often quote Carver with his philosophies and beliefs about life. For the public, almost every person who visits is in awe of the achievements of Carver. Being born a slave and growing up to transform the agriculture of the South is no easy task, and people of all ages envision that as they bask in the nature that this place preserves. A favorite spot among attendees is the museum, as it gives the ability to see the timeline of all the work Carver completed during his lifetime. Additionally, a popular quote from Dr. Carver stated in March 1939 lays on a stone just inside the entrance. It reads,
How can I be sure that I’m on the right road? In all thy ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. Now you must learn to look to Him for direction and then follow, and you’ll never go wrong.
Staying true to who you are in the face of adversity is the most common message people take away from their visit. To get more information about the monument, it would be best to visit its website under the National Parks Service or search for the Carver blog.
Conclusion:
The George Washington Carver National Monument is a symbol of how hard work and dedication to one’s craft, even against adversity, can be rewarded. The memorial’s large coverage of land perfectly encapsulates the perspective of Dr. Carver as well as expresses the wonders he believed in. The beauty of his work shines through, and it is something every American should be able to witness. It is hopeful that George Washington Carver can always be remembered for the person that he was, as well as for his contributions to the realm of agriculture.
Work Cited:
- Dillon, Matthew. “George Washington Carver National Monument.” Openverse, 12 Sept. 2020, openverse.org/image/6058f526-578f-4fab-bc6b-dba851848615?q=george%2Bwashington%2Bcarver%2Bnational%2Bmonument&p=11.
- Empire, Ananas. “George Washington Carver.” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Feb. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8jNhzZwh0A&t=1345s.
- “File:George Washington Carver National Monument – 50319121657.jpg.” Wikimedia Commons. 14 Jul 2024, 06:40 UTC. 30 Apr 2025, 19:37 <https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:George_Washington_Carver_National_Monument_-_50319121657.jpg&oldid=898395554>..
- “File:George Washington Carver National Monument – 50318788678.jpg.” Wikimedia Commons. 10 Jul 2024, 21:28 UTC. 30 Apr 2025, 19:36 <https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:George_Washington_Carver_National_Monument_-_50318788678.jpg&oldid=896646471>.
- “George Washington Carver | Biography.” YouTube, YouTube, 10 Mar. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7_kAd01a4U&t=211s.
- “George Washington Carver National Monument (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/gwca/index.htm. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
- Goe, Joe, and Kake Goe. “A Great Man…A Tour Of G.W. Carver National Monument.” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Oct. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkmZe-RYJt0.
- Sahu, Subjajit. “George Washington Carver National Monument | Wikipedia Audio Article.” YouTube, YouTube, 17 Dec. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI7e7bH_hWY.
- Schaffer, Jim. “Honoring A Legacy: The George Washington Carver National Monument and Its Role in American History.” The Carver, The Carver, 23 Aug. 2024, the-carver.org/blog/2024/8/23/honoring-a-legacy-the-george-washington-carver-national-monument-and-its-role-in-american-history.
- “StoryCorps: George Washington Carver National Monument.” YouTube, YouTube, 2 May 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi9ovNz15FA
- Terrell, Mary Church. Mary Church Terrell Papers: Speeches and Writings, -1953;1929 , “Dr. George W. Carver, the Man Who can make 200 Products from the Peanut”
. 1929. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/mss425490443/>. - Terrell, Mary Church. Mary Church Terrell Papers: Speeches and Writings, -1953; 1929, Mar. 31 , “Dr. George Washington Carver of Tuskegee”. 1929. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/mss425490435/>.
- Winter, H. T. (Henry Thomas), b. 1886, Blanc, André, 1920-1992. Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America <https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/efdf9ad0-7cfb-0134-0ade-00505686a51c>.
