New Gilded Bald Eagle Adorns Liverpool One Shopping Centre

The building that housed the world’s first US Consulate is now the proud possessor of a new gilded bald eagle. It is a fibreglass replica of the original pitch pine eagle that was removed about fourteen months ago, having been deemed too fragile to remain in place, even after a thorough restoration job by the National Museum of Liverpool Conservation Centre in 2008.

The idea for the more modern replacement came as a result of a meeting of minds between the Museum itself, and the Liverpool One shopping centre, where it now stands. A moulding was made to cast the new sculpture, and a bonus for the Museum is that the original wooden eagle will go on display from next year. The new eagle is said to be indistinguishable from the original.

Site of the first American consulate in 1790

There is no great record of how old the original carving is, and it is quite likely that it is not the first eagle that was placed in situ when the Consulate was first opened in 1790 by James Maury, appointed as consul by the first US president, George Washington. It has always been assumed that it was part of a clipper sailing ship’s stern decoration.

Historians say that the eagle was not only a powerful advertisement for the new United States, but was also a landmark for illiterate sailors visiting one of the most important ports in the world
Chris Bliss, Liverpool One estate director, said: “The bald eagle is a tremendous figure with a fantastic history and one which is obviously very important to the city.

“While we are proud to have it ‘nesting’ in Liverpool One, it was likely to become damaged from wind and rain. With this in mind, we decided it would be best cared for by the Museum of Liverpool. By making a replica, we can retain the connection between the statue and its original site while ensuring that the original is protected.”

Jane Duffy, Museum of Liverpool deputy director, said: “As the statue adorning the world’s first US Consulate, it represents the special relationship which the city has enjoyed with North America. Liverpool One was rightly concerned about its continued exposure to the elements. Being wooden, it becomes increasingly vulnerable with age. This solution provides the best of both worlds: the original is looked after and displayed, while the former Consulate maintains its facade with an exact replica.”

Fred O’Brien, an expert on Liverpool’s historic links with the US, welcomed the move. He said: “Liverpool’s special relationship with North America is now in its fourth century and the eagle is a very important part in representing that story.

“When the US Consulate opened in 1790, a lot of Americans in the city were sailors. As many were illiterate, the eagle was a vital symbol for them to recognise. One of the Consul’s duties was bailing drunken sailors out of trouble, so it was crucial that they knew where to go for help!”