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The short version

  • Police are investigating a fire that destroyed a newly installed statue of President Benjamin Harrison at his Indianapolis presidential site.
  • Officials suspect arson because the polymer material used for the sculpture is designed to be fire-resistant and should not combust spontaneously.
  • A fundraising campaign has been launched to reprint the piece or cast it in bronze, while organizers plan to improve material durability for future installations.

An arson investigation is underway following a fire that destroyed a life-size statue of Benjamin Harrison at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis. The blaze occurred in the early hours of September 27, engulfing the sculpture which had been installed less than two weeks prior. Firefighters from the Indianapolis Fire Department arrived on the scene approximately fifteen minutes after the alarm was raised, but they were unable to prevent total destruction of the artwork.

When staff members arrived at the site later that morning, they discovered a significant burn mark where the statue had stood. The only remaining component is the internal structural skeleton, known as the armature. Charles Hyde, the president and chief executive officer of the presidential site, described the incident as a senseless act of vandalism in a public statement. Investigators from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arson unit are currently examining whether the fire was deliberately set.

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Hyde indicated that evidence points toward intentional ignition rather than an accidental or natural cause. He noted that the material used to print the statue is specifically designed to be fire-resistant, meaning it would not have combusted on its own under normal conditions. This characteristic of the polymer suggests that an external heat source was required to start the blaze, leading officials to treat the event as a criminal act rather than a technical failure or accident.

The destroyed piece was part of a public art initiative launched during Constitution Week, coinciding with celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Installed on September 16, the five-foot-six-inch sculpture depicted the twenty-third president mid-stride, holding his hat and papers while wearing a coat draped over one arm. The artwork featured intricate details, including a knotted necktie and realistic wrinkles in the clothing, created through advanced 3D printing technology.

This installation represented a collaboration between the presidential site and the Herron School of Art + Design at Indiana University Indianapolis. Students and faculty members dedicated more than 1,200 hours to creating the piece, which was valued at approximately $8,500. The project marked the beginning of a new effort to use the site’s collection of nearly 11,000 artifacts alongside innovative technology to offer the community fresh ways to engage with historical figures.

Originally, officials intended to display the polymer statue for one year before replacing it with other artworks developed in partnership with Herron students and faculty. Plans were already underway for next year’s installation, which is inspired by the artistic contributions of Caroline Harrison, the president’s first wife. The current loss has disrupted this timeline, forcing organizers to reconsider both the immediate replacement and the long-term strategy for public displays.

In response to the destruction, the presidential site has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to finance the recreation of the artwork. The goal is to raise $15,000 to reprint the original design using similar methods and an additional $50,000 to cast a permanent version in bronze. Hyde emphasized that while the digital files and conceptual plans remain intact, future iterations will prioritize material durability to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

The incident highlights the vulnerabilities of modern public art installations, particularly those utilizing polymer materials intended for temporary display. While the creators possess all necessary data to reconstruct the piece, the focus has shifted toward ensuring that subsequent works can withstand potential threats. The investigation continues as authorities seek to determine who was responsible for the fire and why the statue was targeted.

Sources behind this briefing

Go to the original reporting

  • Smithsonian Magazine↗An Arson Investigation Is Underway After a Suspected ‘Senseless Act of Vandalism’ Destroys a Newly Installed Benjamin Harrison Statue