HIPPOS IN THE POTOMAC? George Washington University Statue, Washington, D.C.

GW's River Horse, George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Did hippopotamuses once swim in the Potomac? No. But at the entrance to the campus of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. there is a charming statue of a hippo with a marker suggesting that they once did. The story was invented just for fun in 1996 by then University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg when he presented the bronze statue as a gift to the University's Class of 2000. 

The hippo's nose is slightly worn by passersby rubbing it.

Text on plaque next to the hippo: 

Legend has it that the Potomac was once home to these wondrous beasts. George and Martha Washington are even said to have watched them cavort in the river shallows from the porch of their beloved Mount Verson on summer evenings. Credited with enhancing the fertility of the plantation, the Washingtons believed the hippopotamus brought them good luck and children on the estate often attempted to lure the creatures close enough to the shore to touch a nose for good luck.

Gate to Kogan Plaza

As one proceeds past the hippo through the gate to Kogan Plaza in the central campus, large sculptures line the walkway.

Walkway to Kogan Plaza.

The focus of Kogan Plaza is a classical dome surrounded by gardens and seating areas, providing a pleasant place for students and visitors on their way to the library or other university buildings.

Suffusion, sculpted by Arthur Carter.

Joyce, sculpted by Sam Martin. Dedicated to the Memory of Joyce Brady Yaeger.

While George Washington may not have observed hippos in real life, he is present in the garden, seated on a bench as a bronze statue, looking as if he has just stopped for a moment to admire the scenery or to chat with passersby.

George Washington, Gary Lee Price, Artist.

After my walk through Kogan Plaza I continued down 21st street and stopped for a short visit at the George Washington University Museum, currently featuring an exhibit of Islamic prayer rugs.

Prayer carpet, Caucasus, 1890-1910.

I happened to pass by the GWU campus on my way to my hotel during a recent visit to Washington, D.C. I had not previously had the opportunity to visit the university. It was a pleasant surprise in the midst of a busy city.

Dome, with Gelman Library in background.