The Trump administration has announced plans to regild the four gold-plated "Arts of War" and "Arts of Peace" equestrian statues near the Lincoln Memorial. The $5.1 million project, part of broader preparations for the nation's 250th anniversary celebration, marks the first regilding of the statues since 1971. The statues, gifted to the U.S. by Italy approximately 75 years ago, will be restored by The Gilders' Studio, a Maryland-based company specializing in architectural gilding and conservation.
The Interior Department highlighted the project as part of ongoing efforts to refurbish monuments and public spaces in Washington, D.C. The National Park Service has contracted The Gilders' Studio, which previously worked on other federal monuments, including the First Infantry Division Monument and the American Expeditionary Forces Memorial. The administration has emphasized the importance of these renovations ahead of the 2026 bicentennial celebrations.
The project follows recent updates to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which the administration has promoted as part of broader efforts to "auramaxx" Washington, D.C. The term, borrowed from Gen Z culture, refers to maximizing one's "aura." The Interior Department shared the announcement on the social platform X, framing the initiative as a step toward enhancing the nation's capital ahead of its 250th anniversary.