1939: Indians for years have protested against this work of art, saying that it is an unfair reflection upon their ancestors. [ Luckily, it wasn't set in stone]

In 1976 a controversial statue - The Rescue -  was dropped by a crane, breaking into several pieces, while being moved to a new storage unit at the Smithsonian in Maryland. It was the near-end to a 120_ year old sculpture that used to sit prominently at the capitol building steps - on the opposing side of another famously controversial statue - Discovery of America.

Discovery of America is on the left and The Rescue on the right. 

American Indians, and others, wanted these statues removed because of the manner in which the Native people were portrayed.

In April of 1939 this issue gained national exposure when Rep. Usher Burdick, (Rep. ND), urged Congress to remove the tomahawk-yielding offense from the steps of the Capitol - and even had himself photographed on the actual statue itself.

A newspaper article (1939, April 27. Albuquerque Journal) wrote Congress was asked by Burdick "to order the famous Indian statue near the east entrance to the capitol removed, 'ground to dust and scattered to the four winds.' The statue depicts an Indian trying to tomahawk a white woman and her child. It has stood at the entrance for almost a century and Burdick said in a resolution it 'is a constant reminder of ill-will towards American Indians."

1939, May 10 The Los Angeles Times 

Introducing a resolution in the House to that effect, the legislator said, ' the American Indian was no worse than some of our own ancestors, and there is no more reason to memorialize his misdeeds than there would be to set up a monument to the witch burners of Salem.' It was later withdrawn.

1946, Nov 28  The Indian Journal 

November 6-9th, 1946, the third annual Convention of the National Congress of American Indians was held at Oklahoma city. They discussed many important topics, one of which was The Rescue in DC. They wrote: 9. Statue in Front of the National Capitol Building. The Executive Council is authorized and instructed to see the removal of a statue at the main entrance of the Capitol Building in Washington -- showing an Indian with a tomahawk in the act of scalping a white woman -- and to see its replacement with a statue that is more appropriate. - 1946, Nov 28 The Indian Journal 

1952, June 24
Cumberland Evening Times 

Six years later( 1952), a senator from Oklahoma said he "was extremely gratified... when he saw a crate around his pet abomination, the Indian-scalping statue on the front steps of the Capitol. He figured they were going to cart the monstrosity away. He called Architect of the Capitol David Lynn to congratulate him on at last ridding the nation's No 1 edifice of the gory eyesore."... He "became practically inconsolable" when learned that they were just protecting it from repair debris. - 1952, June 24. Cumberland Evening Times

1956, Oct 23  The Tennessean 

A 1956 article - Scalping Outdated - in the Tennessean, wrote: If it begun on extending the front of the Capitol building soon after inauguration as now projected, at least one eyesore to many members of congress and visitors will be eliminated. At one side of the main doorway to the building stands a marble statue, now badly chipped, depicting an Indian with a tomahawk about to scalp a white woman clutching her baby. Indians for years have protested against this work of art, saying that it is an unfair reflection upon their ancestors. One congressman, who has many constituents of Indian blood, introduced a bill proposing that the statue be "removed, ground to dust and the ashes scattered to the four winds." 

In 1958 both Rescue and Discovery of America were removed from the east facade - but only because the building was adding an extension. It was quietly placed in storage and never restored.

Discovery of America 

This 1886 article stated that statues like "The Discovery of America" are symbolic figures of "Freedom." Another symbol was the Progress of Civilization 

1886, Oct 28 The Index 

"Progress of Civilization" below: 

Up-close of Poor Lo .. He seems to be the only one that's bummed about something.

2 Old Statues At Capitol ‘Voted Out’

Controversial Art Conveniently Gone From New Front

By Marshall McNeil

1962, Jan 10  The Pittsburg Press

     Washington , Jan 10 – Two controversial century old statuary pieces are missing from the main entrance of the Capitol as Congress reconvenes today.
     No longer is the great stairway to the center door guarded on one side by a frontiersman saving a white woman from scalping by an Indian. No more, on the other side, does Columbus hold the globe aloft like an amateur balancing a bowling ball.
     The 25-million dollar extension of the Capitol’s east front thus has achieved what generations of protesting American Indians and artists failed to do.
It has caused the two groups to be removed from their pedestals.
They’re stowed away now in the Capitol’s power plant.
     And it is uncertain whether they will be replaced in the spots they occupied, one since 1844 and the other since 1853….
The two statues were bought by President Martin Van Buren. They saw 
Lincoln inaugurated and heard Roosevelt calm depression fears. But the Kennedy Congress is going to have to do without him.

First to be erected was the ground called  “Discovery of America,” 

a work in white Seravezza marble from near Naples, sculpted 

in Italy by Luigi Persico, Under his contract with 

Van Buren the Italian artist’s work cost $27,391.59.

     It shows according to Capitol records, “The discovery of America in the person of the noble Genoese, Columbus, raising aloft the globe, representing the earth, while at his side is seen a shrinking Indian maiden, looking upon his with surprise and awe.” 

1977, this article reminds everyone that this statue remains in "exile" after 19 years - and where it remains today. Columbus is still in storage, he's still slowly deteriorating. And that's okay.

1977, Oct 11 The Morning News 

1962 Jan 10 The Pittsburgh Press 

The_Pittsburgh_Press_Wed__Jan_10__1962_

1939, April 29 The Indianapolis Star 

1939, April 27. Albuquerque Journal