The “indispensable man” of the American Revolution now has a permanent home in the Florida county that shares his name. On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis arrived in Chipley to unveil a new statue of George Washington, marking a major milestone in the state’s lead-up to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The bronze tribute to the first president is the ninth installment in a statewide project to place statues of Founding Fathers in Florida counties named after them.
During the ceremony, state leaders emphasized Washington’s role not just as a general, but as a leader who famously walked away from power to ensure a stable democracy.
“Nobody was more consequential in establishing our nation than George Washington,” Governor DeSantis told the crowd. “Today in Chipley, I was proud to unveil a new statue of Washington in the Florida county that bears his name. We honor Washington as the embodiment of civic virtue.”
The event served as a springboard for a massive educational push dubbed “America250FL.” Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd noted that the statue is intended to remind future generations of the “duty, responsibility, and the public service we owe to our country.”
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Beyond the new monument, the state is taking history on the road. Officials announced the “Florida Freedom Tour,” a mobile museum consisting of two 18-wheelers outfitted with exhibits and artifacts from the Museum of Florida History. Starting May 1, these rolling museums will trek through all 67 Florida counties, stopping at schools and local festivals to showcase the state’s historical contributions before and after 1776.
Bryan Griffin, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, called the state the “perfect place” to celebrate the 2026 semiquincentennial, noting that the statue series is just one part of a larger calendar of events.
Adding to the multimedia push, the state will soon release America 250: A Portrait of Florida. The seven-episode docuseries will dive into the history of iconic locations like St. Augustine, Cape Canaveral, and the Everglades, highlighting how they fit into the broader American story.
The Chipley statue joins a growing list of monuments Florida has commissioned recently, featuring figures ranging from Benjamin Franklin to Frederick Douglass.
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