COLUMBUS CIRCLE
SYRACUSE, NY

Full Circle Design Competition

Creating a new public education and heritage site in Syracuse that reflects our collective history, contemporary understanding of the legacy of Christopher Columbus, and inspiration for the future.

In September 2018, City of Syracuse’s Mayor Ronald Walsh asked InterFaith Works to initiate a circle of dialogues regarding conflicting points of view regarding the public space located at the intersections East Jefferson, East Onondaga, and Montgomery Streets. The reason for the Mayor’s initiative was the longstanding and growing tension in the community arising from the legacy of Christopher Columbus, whose statue is the district’s most prominent feature. (Erected in 1934, this statue was meant to symbolize the contribution of the City’s and our nation’s Italian community in answer to years of anti-immigrant sentiment.) Three outcomes emerged from these community dialogues:

1

There was validity to, if not consensus about, exploring ways this important public space is utilized – including how it might account for modern, more diverse understandings of our nation’s history and Columbus’s legacy in particular.

2

Participants in the circle dialogues appreciated hearing, in many cases for the first time, multifaced and profound perspectives about seminal events in American history, including Columbus’ legacy.

3

Because of its expertise, experience, resources, and neutrality, the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) was best suited and could be trusted to lead explorations of ways to revisit the use of this public space.

Project Funding

This community-driven project is largely funded thanks to a grant application developed and submitted by OHA to the Mellon Foundation in 202__. Funding in the amount of $____ was announced as part of that organization’s Monuments Project — a multi-year commitment aimed at transforming the nation’s commemorative landscape to ensure our collective histories were more completely and accurately represented. [Read the complete announcement here.]

To date, no tax dollars from the City of Syracuse have been utilized, except for staff time required to further the project. When The Full Circle design competition is complete, the City of Syracuse – under the leadership of our current Mayor Sharon Owens, who fully supports this effort initiated by Mayor Walsh — will assume responsibility for bringing the project to fruition within the applicable budget year.

Project Timeline

What’s New

Here’s what’s new and noteworthy in The Full Circle design competition. Click to learn more and check back often for updates

  • Sample Story 1

    The Full Circle Design Competition brandmark was consciously and deliberately designed to convey multiple meanings. Echoing the project’s name, the mark’s outer circle reflects a 360-degree perspective — an inclusive, holistic view of the ideas, people, and histories involved. The…

    : Sample Story 1

  • Sample Story 2

    The Full Circle Design Competition brandmark was consciously and deliberately designed to convey multiple meanings. Echoing the project’s name, the mark’s outer circle reflects a 360-degree perspective — an inclusive, holistic view of the ideas, people, and histories involved. The…

    : Sample Story 2

  • Sample Story 3

    The Full Circle Design Competition brandmark was consciously and deliberately designed to convey multiple meanings. Echoing the project’s name, the mark’s outer circle reflects a 360-degree perspective — an inclusive, holistic view of the ideas, people, and histories involved. The…

    : Sample Story 3
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