EXCLUSIVE: Beneath a towering 23-foot bronze figure holding the Declaration of Independence aloft, designer Matthew Taylor stopped beside an equestrian statue that many Americans have likely never seen, or even heard of.

«Most Americans have never heard of Caesar Rodney,» Taylor told Fox News Digital during an exclusive tour of the new Spirit of ’76 exhibition at Freedom Plaza. «But we owe this man an enormous debt of gratitude.»

The temporary installation, unveiled as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, transforms Freedom Plaza into an open-air gallery honoring Revolutionary War figures whose names rarely appear in history textbooks.

Commissioned by President Donald Trump, the exhibition features 22 statues and sculptural installations, including a restored equestrian monument of Rodney, a towering «Spirit of Liberty» centerpiece, bronze figures representing Revolutionary soldiers, and an immersive memorial honoring Americans who died aboard British prison ships during the Revolution.

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According to the National Park Service, the exhibit was created to honor the «heroes and martyrs of the Revolution» during America’s semiquincentennial and is intended to celebrate the enduring «Spirit of ’76’ that continues to live on in every American heart.» 

The centerpiece installations include the Caesar Rodney equestrian statue, the «12 Soldiers of the Revolution,» the Prison Ship Martyrs memorial and the 23-foot Spirit of Liberty statue.

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The restored Caesar Rodney equestrian statue stands at Freedom Plaza during the opening of the Spirit of ’76 exhibition in Washington, D.C. (Dan Fleuette)

Rather than beginning with George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, however, Taylor chose to introduce visitors to Rodney.

The Delaware statesman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is remembered for his legendary overnight ride from Dover to Philadelphia in July 1776. Suffering from severe illness, Rodney rode roughly 80 miles through a storm to cast the vote that broke Delaware’s deadlock in favor of independence.

«Of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Caesar Rodney is one of the most exciting,» Taylor said. «When Delaware’s delegation was deadlocked, he rode through the night to cast the vote that helped secure American independence.»

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A welder from Atelier Missor places final touches on the «Spirit of Liberty» statue before the installation was made public earlier this month. (Dan Fleuette)

For decades, the bronze statue stood in Wilmington’s Rodney Square before being removed in 2020. It now occupies one of the most prominent locations in the nation’s capital, just blocks from both the White House and the Capitol.

From Rodney’s ride, Taylor naturally guides visitors into the next chapter of the American story.

Arranged around the plaza are bronze sculptures representing 12 Revolutionary War soldiers. Rather than depicting famous generals, the statues celebrate ordinary Americans whose individual stories reflect the sacrifices of the Revolutionary generation.

«These are ordinary citizens who did extraordinary things,» Taylor said. «Every one of these statues tells the story of someone who answered the call during the Revolution.»

An inscription featuring a quote from George Washington appears on the base of the Spirit of Liberty statue at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., during America’s 250th anniversary celebration. (Dan Fleuette)

Among them is Samuel Whittemore, who fought British troops at age 78. According to Taylor, Whittemore was bayoneted multiple times, shot in the head and left for dead before surviving and living into his 90s.

Another figure, Simon Knowles, enlisted at just 15 years old and served alongside George Washington throughout much of the Revolutionary War before returning home to live as a farmer.

Taylor said those stories represent the exhibition’s central message.

«Unlike monuments to George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, these statues honor ordinary Americans who did extraordinary things,» he said.

Nearby, another installation tells one of the Revolution’s lesser-known tragedies.

Designed as visitors physically walk through its narrow bronze panels, the Prison Ship Martyrs memorial recreates the outline of a British prison ship. According to the National Park Service, nearly 12,000 Americans died aboard prison ships during the Revolutionary War; even more than were killed in combat during the conflict.

Taylor said the memorial is meant to immerse visitors in that experience.

«As you walk inside, you hear the water from the fountain,» he explained during the tour. «It helps place you inside the story.»

The fountain itself has also become part of the experience. Taylor noted it was recently restored to operation after years of sitting idle, providing the soundscape surrounding the memorial while complementing the plaza’s redesign.

The Prison Ship Martyrs memorial at Freedom Plaza honors Americans who died aboard British prison ships during the Revolutionary War. (Dan Fleuette)

Towering above the entire exhibition stands the Spirit of Liberty, a new bronze figure inspired by iconic American monuments while looking toward the country’s next 250 years.

Standing 23 feet tall, the statue holds an exact bronze replica of the Declaration of Independence in one hand while raising a sword skyward with the other. Around its base are reliefs depicting three defining moments of the Revolution: the signing of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington crossing the Delaware River and the British surrender at Yorktown.

«The Spirit of Liberty represents the sacrifices that gave birth to this nation,» Taylor said.

During Fox News Digital’s visit, visitors gathered around the plaza to photograph the statues against the Washington skyline. Low-angle views of the bronze figures framed them against bright summer skies, while Rodney’s horse appeared frozen mid-stride as though continuing the historic ride that helped shape the nation’s founding.

For Taylor, whose career has largely been spent both behind the camera and behind the scenes designing historical works, the exhibition is about more than commemorating famous names.

Instead, he hopes visitors leave thinking about people they had never encountered before arriving at Freedom Plaza.

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«When visitors leave here,» Taylor said, «I hope they realize they can do extraordinary things themselves. America was built by ordinary citizens who answered extraordinary moments.»

The Spirit of ’76 exhibition is free to the public and is scheduled to remain on display throughout the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.

The race to become America’s next economic heavyweight may already have a frontrunner.

The latest Internal Revenue Service (IRS) migration data show billions of dollars in taxpayer wealth flowing into Texas, while Census figures show the state’s largest metropolitan areas continue to outpace much of the country in population growth, strengthening a decades-long shift in America’s economic center of gravity.

What’s more, Texas isn’t relying on a single boomtown. Dallas-Fort Worth added more residents than any metropolitan area in the country over the past year, while Houston, Austin and San Antonio also ranked among the nation’s fastest-growing metros.

That unusual breadth gives Texas multiple engines of economic growth, providing businesses with larger labor pools, diversified industries and a broader customer base than states anchored by a single dominant city.

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The population boom has been accompanied by an influx of wealth. IRS migration data analyzed by the Tax Foundation show the Lone Star State gained more than $5 billion in adjusted gross income from interstate movers, while California and New York recorded multibillion-dollar losses.

«Capital follows where there is confidence,» Texas Association of Business Chief Policy Officer Gabriela von zur Muehlen previously told Fox News Digital. «And right now there is a tremendous amount of confidence in Texas.»

Von zur Muehlen said Texas’ tax structure and predictable regulatory environment continue to attract businesses and investment from other states, helping reinforce the state’s economic momentum.

While Florida attracted the nation’s largest influx of taxpayer wealth and South Carolina posted the strongest inbound migration rate, Texas stood out by combining billions in new taxable income with rapid growth across Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

Economists say that combination matters because higher-income households bring spending, investment, entrepreneurship and tax revenue that can accelerate job creation, fuel commercial development and attract even more businesses. Over time, those forces can transform fast-growing metros into some of the nation’s most influential economic hubs.

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Unlike simple population counts, adjusted gross income offers a glimpse into the economic resources newcomers bring with them. Higher-income households can contribute disproportionately to consumer spending, investment and local tax collections, making income migration an important measure of a region’s long-term economic strength.

The migration data are only part of the story.

Earlier federal estimates showed Texas wasn’t just adding residents — it was becoming wealthier on a per-person basis. Despite adding roughly 419,000 residents in 2025, more than any other state, Texas’ economic output climbed to about $2.9 trillion, while per-capita GDP continued to rise, suggesting the state’s economy was becoming more productive rather than simply larger.

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As businesses leave high-cost states, Texas has become the undisputed top destination. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/Getty Images)

Business leaders say those trends are creating a self-reinforcing cycle. As more workers and higher-income households relocate to Texas, companies gain access to a larger labor pool and customer base, encouraging additional hiring, investment and expansion. That growth, in turn, creates more jobs and opportunities that can attract even more residents.

The migration has coincided with years of corporate relocations and business investment across the state, particularly in technology, finance, manufacturing and energy. The influx has also fueled new housing developments, logistics hubs, manufacturing projects and expanding commercial corridors across many of Texas’ fastest-growing metropolitan areas.

Supporters of Texas’ economic model argue its lack of a state income tax, relatively affordable cost of living and business-friendly climate continue attracting both employers and workers, reinforcing the state’s long-term growth.

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California and New York remain among the nation’s largest and most influential economies.

But the latest Census, IRS and federal economic data suggest Texas continues gaining ground by attracting people, taxpayer wealth and economic output simultaneously, an uncommon combination that could reshape where businesses invest, jobs are created, and economic influence grows over the coming decade.

España comenzó este domingo a contener los grandes incendios que afectan al centro del país, mientras Francia mantiene su principal preocupación en el fuego de la Gironda, que sigue fuera de control y amenaza con agravarse por la llegada de una nueva ola de calor.

Los fuegos arrasaron 77.000 hectáreas en España y otras 42.000 en el departamento francés de la Gironda. En conjunto, los incendios obligaron a evacuar o desalojar a cerca de 330.000 personas entre ambos países.

Mientras tanto, más de 400 personas fueron evacuadas por mar en el sur de Italia y otras más serán transportadas próximamente a causa de un incendio forestal en la costa adriática, informó la guardia costera.

“Más de 400 turistas y bañistas han sido evacuados por mar, la única ruta de evacuación viable”, informó la institución en su canal de WhatsApp.

Los evacuados fueron rescatados de la zona cercana a la ciudad de Peschici, en la región de Puglia.

Qué está pasando en España

En España, más de 100.000 personas se vieron afectadas por las llamas entre evacuados, desalojados y confinados, mientras que en Francia el incendio de la Gironda mantiene evacuadas a 220.000 personas, que no podrán regresar a sus hogares hasta que el fuego quede completamente perimetrado.

La evolución de los incendios españoles fue favorable tras varios días de intensa propagación de las llamas.

El incendio de Ávila, con unas 50.000 hectáreas calcinadas, se convertió en el mayor registrado en el país desde que existen registros, mientras que otras 25.000 hectáreas corresponden a la Comunidad de Madrid y unas 2000 a la provincia de Toledo.

Pese a esa mejoría, las autoridades mantienen que aún quedan focos activos y no descartan nuevas evacuaciones, especialmente en el oeste de la Comunidad de Madrid, mientras el operativo continúa centrado en estabilizar los incendios y evitar reactivaciones.

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En las labores de extinción trabajan miles de efectivos, apoyados por la Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME), cuyo jefe, Javier Marcos Arribas, señaló que quedan pocas cabezas activas, aunque los equipos siguen actuando sobre un perímetro de unos 280 kilómetros.

El Gobierno mantiene el nivel de emergencia nacional en los incendios del centro del país y reforzó el dispositivo con seis aviones de extinción enviados por Grecia, Italia y Turquía, además de un contingente portugués integrado por 129 efectivos y 41 vehículos.

El presidente del Gobierno, Pedro Sánchez, anunció además que el próximo martes declarará zonas gravemente afectadas por una emergencia de protección civil los territorios castigados por las llamas.

Sánchez recordó también que los incendios calcinaron unas 150.000 hectáreas en España desde comienzos de año.

La campaña dejó episodios especialmente graves, como el de Almería, donde murieron 13 personas y ardieron 7000 hectáreas, o el de la Sierra Norte de Guadalajara, donde el fuego devoró 32.000 hectáreas en el segundo mayor incendio registrado en el país desde que existen datos.

Francia mantiene la alerta por la Gironda

En Francia, el incendio originado el miércoles en la bahía de Arcachón, en el departamento de la Gironda, continúa siendo el principal foco de preocupación tras arrasar 42.000 hectáreas y obligar a evacuar a 220.000 personas.

Las autoridades descartaron por ahora el regreso de los vecinos y advirtieron que la llegada de temperaturas próximas a los 40 grados a partir del martes podría complicar aún más las labores de extinción.

Ante esta situación, el presidente Emmanuel Macron presidirá este lunes una célula de crisis interministerial para coordinar la respuesta al mayor episodio de incendios registrado este año en el país.

Uno de los factores que más preocupa a los servicios de emergencia es la aparición de pirocumulonimbos, un fenómeno que genera tormentas de fuego impredecibles y que, según las autoridades, nunca antes se había observado en Francia.

En la Gironda trabajan unos 2500 bomberos, 1500 militares y 1200 policías y gendarmes, apoyados por 18 aeronaves y un avión militar A400M adaptado para combatir incendios.

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El balance provisional asciende a 75 bomberos heridos y unas 240 viviendas destruidas.

El incendio mantiene además importantes alteraciones en las comunicaciones, con cierres parciales de la autopista A63, que conecta Burdeos con España, e interrupciones del tráfico ferroviario, mientras las autoridades distribuyeron mascarillas por la elevada concentración de partículas de humo.

Francia mantiene también activos otros grandes incendios en Las Landas (igualmente en el sudoeste), donde la situación mejora progresivamente, y en el departamento de Var, además de otros focos en los de Córcega y Altos Alpes.

(Con información de EFE y AFP)