Rawlins Park fountain restored after nearly a decade of disrepair

Trump the United States Department of the Interior announced repairs to the defunct fountain, reflecting pools, and the bronze statue of Civil War General John Aaron Rawlins in Washington, D.C.

First Published: July 6, 2026, 3:20 PM EST

WHITE HOUSE — Donald Trump shared the Department of the Interior’s announcement that the Rawlins Park fountain has been restored after sitting defunct for nearly a decade on a Truth Social post on July 6, 2026 at 10:06 AM EST (see truthsocial).

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “From Greg Wischer at the United States Department of the Interior: “Another fountain has been fixed, beautified, and turned on — The Rawlins Park fountain! This fountain was defunct for nearly a decade, and the fountain’s plumbing, electrical, mechanical systems all needed repairs. Like other parks with fountains, the park with this fountain was also beautified. The park features a magnolia-lined flagstone plaza with an octagonal bubbling fountain flanked by two 116-foot-long reflecting pools. The bronze statue of Union General John Aaron Rawlins—who was the closest advisor to Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War and later served as Secretary of War under President Grant—was cleaned and waxed, too. The statue was cast from captured Confederate cannons and installed in 1874.” RAWLINS.”

Greg Wischer, an official at the United States Department of the Interior, detailed the scope of the restoration work at Rawlins Park in downtown Washington, D.C. The fountain’s plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems all required repairs after years of neglect. The surrounding park was also beautified as part of the effort.

The park features a magnolia-lined flagstone plaza centered on an octagonal bubbling fountain flanked by two 116-foot-long reflecting pools. The bronze statue of Union General John Aaron Rawlins, who served as the closest advisor to Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War and later became Secretary of War under President Grant, was cleaned and waxed during the restoration. The statue was cast from captured Confederate cannons and installed in 1874, making it one of the older military monuments in the capital.

The Rawlins Park restoration is part of a broader effort by the Department of the Interior to repair and beautify public fountains across Washington, D.C. Wischer’s announcement noted that other parks with fountains have received similar treatment, suggesting a systematic campaign to restore neglected public infrastructure in the nation’s capital.

Images accompanying the post show the restored bronze statue of General Rawlins standing atop a granite pedestal engraved with his name. The statue depicts a standing military figure in Civil War-era uniform holding field equipment, and the bronze appears to have been recently cleaned. The surrounding flagstone plaza and greenery appear well maintained, consistent with the beautification claims.

In the last 30 days, 45 of 545 Trump posts were on the topic of domestic policy, reflecting the administration’s continued focus on government operations and public infrastructure improvements.