Supporters press for a DC memorial to Thomas Paine, whose writings helped fuel the Revolutionary War [View all]

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 3:00 PM EST, January 10, 2026


NEW YORK (AP) — Some 250 years after “Common Sense” helped inspire the 13 colonies to declare independence, Thomas Paine might receive a long-anticipated tribute from his adopted country.

A Paine memorial in Washington, D.C., authorized by a 2022 law, awaits approval from the U.S. Department of Interior. It would be the first landmark in the nation’s capital to be dedicated to one of the American Revolution’s most stirring, popular and quotable advocates — who also was one of the most intensely debated men of his time.

“He was a critical and singular voice,” said U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a sponsor of the bill that backed the memorial. He said Paine has long been “underrecognized and overlooked.” Saturday marks the 250th anniversary of the publication of Paine’s “Common Sense,” among the first major milestones of a yearlong commemoration of the country’s founding and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Paine supporters have waited decades for a memorial in the District of Columbia, and success is still not ensured: Federal memorials are initiated by Congress but usually built through private donations. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed bipartisan legislation for such a memorial, but the project was delayed, failed to attract adequate funding and was essentially forgotten by the mid-2000s.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/thomas-paine-memorial-common-sense-america-250-2b02db3670ee5ea2d299784019eb0c86

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There are 2 statues of Paine in the U.S. - both in NJ including in Bordentown, NJ where he lived -



and in Morrisntown, NJ -



Here in Philly, the publisher of Paine's "Common Sense" has a marker right on 3rd St. just below Walnut St. near the intersection with what was renamed to "Thomas Paine Place" (an alley that feeds between 3rd and Dock St... and across from where there used to be a First Pennsylvania Bank branch that I would go to years and years ago) -



And ironically enough also here in Philly, the plaza in front of Philly's Municipal Services building, where the Rizzo statue was eventually torn down, is named "Thomas Paine Plaza".





The art pieces above have since been removed and the plaza currently being completely re-done.