On April 22, 1979, the National Academy of Sciences dedicated a twelve-foot tall, four-ton statue of Albert Einstein in Washington, DC.
They created the statue in recognition of his exalted place among scientists. The sculptor, Robert Berks, produced portraits of over 300 famous people including John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr, and Ernest Hemingway.
The statue shows Einstein relaxed on the bench in a pair of sandals, holding a stack of papers. They’re inscribed with his three most famous equations- the photoelectric effect, the theory of general relativity, and the equivalence of energy and matter.
The solar system studding the memorial’s floor is an exact replica of its position on April 22, the day of the dedication.
The symbolism of the memorial strikes me. The scientist seated, holding a tablet with the three laws; the sun, moon, and stars sprawled at his feet.
It’s reminiscent of the patriarch Joseph and his dream of him ruling over his brothers. Like Joseph, the heavenly bodies bow down before Einstein, a former patent clerk who changed the world with his equations.
Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
-Genesis 37:9
In the Bible, stars often represent leadership. Throughout history, stars have acted as guides to explorers and hope in times of darkness. They’ve led scientists to great scientific discoveries. Placing them in reverence at Einstein’s feet speaks volumes.
Einstein’s most famous equation, E=MC², is still a foundation of science today. But can you even explain what it means or why it’s so significant?
This simple statue has become a popular spot for photos, even inspiring its own hashtag- #PhotoswithAlbert. Tourists and locals alike climb the statue for the perfect social media pic or tp rub its nose, said to bring intelligence or luck.
Wondering what to do in Washington DC on a lovely spring day? Visit the statue yourself.
You can find it on Constitution Avenue, just across from the Lincoln and Vietnam Veterans Memorials. Climb in his lap, study the star chart, and remember this scientist who changed the world.
“The right to search for truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true.”
Albert Einstein
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