Responding to Controversial Monuments

San Francisco’s Pioneer Monument was heralded across the United States when it was erected in 1894. It was one of the few structures to survive the city’s 1906 earthquake and fire. But as the city rebuilt, local residents forgot the 800-ton monument. A century later, a proposal to relocate the monument to make room for a new public library sparked public debate. Preservationists insisted on keeping the monument in its original location. Native activists found its depiction of California history offensive and called to remove the “California Native Americans” sculptural grouping.

Efforts to reinterpret “California Native Americans” likewise sparked controversy. The Consul General of Spain, San Francisco’s Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church, and many others objected to proposed text for an interpretive plaque explaining the impact of white settlement on indigenous Californians. Set against a backdrop of national debates surrounding the “Culture Wars” of the 1990s, game play will focus on these two debates. In Part I, players debate whether to preserve, relocate, or remove the statue. In Part II, players negotiate its reinterpretation. Players will engage with historiography (how historians interpret the past), historical memory, and identity politics.

This is a Level 3 game that is still under development but has been approved by the Reacting Editorial Board (REB) for general use. A detailed explanation of the editorial process and game levels can be found on our REB Page.