In the context of this artwork, explore the Damage and restoration of the History.
In 1958, an auto accident seriously damaged the bronze fence, and it was placed into storage, where it was lost for many years.In 2004 the city of Newport asked Newmans Ltd to restore the bronze statue of Columbus, which had been missing the fencing/surround for nearly years. Fortunately, Mayor Richard Sardella located the surround's fragments in the back of a construction company's storehouse under an old fire escape covered with years of dirt.Using historical images kept by a member of the Italian American Society, the restoration company repaired or replaced the missing stone and bronze parts and reassembled the surround. The City of Newport's Parks Department helped to replace the surround, and strategically placed bollards between the monuments and the oncoming traffic. Since then, the bollards have had to be replaced twice. The statue and its surround remain unscathed.
Newport