Wilson Statue in Vrchlického Sady, Prague

The Wilson statue in Vrchlického sady commemorates the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, and stands in a small park right next to Prague's main railway station. It is one of the few European monuments dedicated to an American president — and one with a turbulent history: destroyed by the Nazi occupation authorities and rebuilt only seven decades later.

Why is there a monument to an American president in Prague?

Woodrow Wilson supported the right of Central European nations to self-determination after the First World War, including the right of Czechs and Slovaks to their own state. His stance contributed to the emergence of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, which is why he is remembered in Czech history as a figure tied to the country's independence. In gratitude for that support, Prague decided to erect a monument in his honor.

When was the original monument built, and who designed it?

The first version of the statue was unveiled on 4 July 1928 — a date chosen to echo American Independence Day. The design came from Czech-American sculptor Albín Polášek. The figure depicted Wilson larger than life, with his arms raised in a gesture resembling a blessing. The statue stood on a tall, nearly six-meter (5.8 m) plinth bearing the president's name and a line from his 1917 speech declaring war on Germany: "The world must be made safe for democracy."

What happened to the original statue during the war?

In December 1941, just days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Nazi Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich ordered the monument's destruction. The statue was melted down for scrap metal. After the war, the site remained empty for decades — not only because of wartime losses, but also because Wilson, a symbol of Western democracy, was not a figure the postwar communist authorities were eager to commemorate in public space.

What is the story behind the 1946 plaque?

Shortly after the war, in 1946, a memorial plaque was placed at the site of the destroyed monument by Jan Masaryk, then Czechoslovakia's foreign minister and son of the country's first president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. The inscription stated that the monument had been destroyed by the Germans in 1941 and would be rebuilt by Americans of Czech descent. That promise was fulfilled only many years later.

When was the replica that stands there today unveiled?

The new statue, a replica of Albín Polášek's original, was unveiled on 5 October 2011. The ceremony was attended by then Czech President Václav Klaus, his predecessor Václav Havel, and Prague-born Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State. The presence of such high-profile guests underscored the monument's symbolic weight for Czech-American relations.

Where exactly does the monument stand, and how do you find it?

The monument stands in Vrchlického sady, a park named after Czech poet Jaroslav Vrchlický, directly in front of Prague's main railway station (Hlavní nádraží). It is one of the first sights travelers see when stepping off a train in the Czech capital, making it an easy stop on any walk through the city center.

Frequently asked questions

Is the statue standing there today the original from 1928? No. The original statue was destroyed in 1941 on the orders of the Nazi occupation authorities. What visitors see today is a replica unveiled in 2011.

Why is Woodrow Wilson significant to Czechs? He supported the right of Central European nations to self-determination and contributed to the emergence of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, which is why he is regarded in Czech history as a figure linked to the country's independence.

Who designed the original 1928 monument? Czech-American sculptor Albín Polášek.

When and why was the first statue destroyed? In December 1941, on the order of Nazi Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich, days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The statue was melted down for scrap metal.

Where exactly is the monument located? In Vrchlického sady park, directly beside Prague's main railway station.