Why did the United States send London a bunch of dirt?

Why did the United States send London a bunch of dirt?

For a statue of George Washington! In 1921, the state of Virginia sent a replica of a statue by Jean-Antoine Hudon.

The city of London decided to put that statue in Trafalgar Square, one of London's most well-known tourist attractions.

There was only one problem: George Washington had publicly said that he would never set foot on English soil. Erecting a statue of his likeness on English soil would've violated his desires.

Instead, Virginia sent a bunch of American soil along with the statue.

The 'English' soil was replaced with this 'American' soil, and the statue rested on top of it.

If you're not familiar with Trafalgar Square, it's one of Central London's major tourist attractions and public squares.

The square was built to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, and displays monuments in honor of many British Naval heroes, and other pieces of contemporary art.

(Source)

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