In 1922, a statue of Joan of Arc was erected at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C. A symbol of friendship between France and the United States, the statue was dedicated following World War I with President Warren G. Harding in attendance along with French Ambassador Jean Jules Jusserand. The Embassy of France was located across the street from the park at that time.
A feature of the statue is a sword raised in the air by Joan of Arc. The sword is present today, but that hasn’t always been the case. It has been stolen from the statue multiple times over the years. The sword is 5 feet long and weighs 30 pounds, so carrying it off without anyone noticing would be a challenge. But more than one person has succeeded. It most recently disappeared in September 2016.
Read more:
Then and Now: Joan of Arc Statue in Meridian Hill Park
People Have Been Stealing the Sword From This Joan of Arc Statue for Over 80 Years