Statue of Joseph Henry

Professor Joseph Henry
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites
Statue of Joseph Henry
Location	Jefferson Drive SW Washington, D.C., U.S.
Coordinates	38°53′21″N 77°01′34″W / 38.88915°N 77.02599°W / 38.88915; -77.02599
Built	1883
Architect	William Wetmore Story
Part of	National Mall (66000031)[1] L'Enfant Plan (97000332)[2]
Significant dates
Designated CP	October 15, 1966 (National Mall) April 24, 1997 (L'Enfant Plan)
Designated DCIHS	November 8, 1964 (National Mall) January 19, 1971 (L'Enfant Plan)

Professor Joseph Henry, also known as the Joseph Henry Memorial, is an outdoor bronze sculpture depicting scientist Joseph Henry, the first president of the Smithsonian Institution. The statue stands in front of the Smithsonian Institution Building in Washington, D.C., facing the National Mall. It was sculpted by artist William Wetmore Story, and dedicated in 1883, a few years after Henry's death. The bronze statue and granite base were unveiled in front of thousands of onlookers and invited guests. Speeches at the dedication included one from Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Morrison Waite, and the president of Yale College, Noah Porter.

The statue originally stood northwest of the Smithsonian Institution Building, but it was moved in 1934 when the National Mall was reconfigured. In 1965, the statue was turned around so that Henry faces the Mall. He did not like the Smithsonian Institution Building, even though he and family lived there for more than two decades. The statue is a contributing property to the National Mall Historic District and the L'Enfant Plan, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites.