Octavius Catto Memorial
Octavius V. Catto Memorial
| Type | Public monument |
|---|---|
| Address | South side of City Hall, Dilworth Park |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Neighborhood | Center City |
| Website | Official site |
| Established | 2017 |
| Hours | Always accessible |
The Octavius V. Catto Memorial is a bronze sculpture in Dilworth Park, on the south side of City Hall, honoring Octavius Valentine Catto (1839-1871), a Black civil rights leader, educator, and activist murdered for his voting rights work during Reconstruction. Unveiled in 2017, it was Philadelphia's first public monument to an African American individual.[1]
Octavius V. Catto
[edit | edit source]Early Life
[edit | edit source]- Born 1839 in Charleston, South Carolina
- Family moved to Philadelphia in 1844
- Father was a prominent minister
- Educated at Institute for Colored Youth (now Cheyney University)
- Became a teacher and principal
Civil Rights Leadership
[edit | edit source]Catto was a leading figure in Philadelphia's Black community:
- Education — Taught at and led the Institute for Colored Youth
- Desegregation — Fought to desegregate Philadelphia streetcars (1867 victory)
- Military — Helped recruit Black troops for the Union Army (Civil War)
- Voting rights — Major advocate for 15th Amendment enforcement
- Baseball — Founded and played for the Pythian Base Ball Club
Death
[edit | edit source]On October 10, 1871, during violence surrounding a contentious election:
- White mobs attacked Black voters in Philadelphia
- Catto was shot and killed on South Street
- He was 32 years old
- His killer, Frank Kelly, was acquitted in 1877
- His death symbolized Reconstruction's betrayal
The Memorial
[edit | edit source]Design
[edit | edit source]Created by sculptor Branly Cadet:
- Life-size bronze figure of Catto
- Catto stands confidently, looking forward
- Holds a ballot in one hand
- Period-accurate clothing
- Accompanying panels tell his story
Location
[edit | edit source]- South side of City Hall in Dilworth Park
- Visible from South Broad Street
- First public monument to an African American in Philadelphia
- Accessible at all times
Dedication
[edit | edit source]- Unveiled September 26, 2017
- Result of decades of advocacy
- Major civic ceremony
- Recognition long overdue
Significance
[edit | edit source]Why Catto Matters
[edit | edit source]- Achieved streetcar desegregation 90 years before Rosa Parks
- One of the most prominent Black Philadelphians of the 19th century
- His murder showed Reconstruction's violent backlash
- Largely forgotten for over a century
- Memorial part of recovering his legacy
Historical Recovery
[edit | edit source]For decades, Catto was forgotten:
- No major memorials until 2017
- Historical marker added in 2007
- Biography Tasting Freedom (2010) renewed interest
- Memorial campaign succeeded after years of effort
Visiting
[edit | edit source]| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Dilworth Park, south of City Hall |
| Access | Always open, free |
| Time needed | 10-15 minutes |
| Combine with | City Hall tour, Dilworth Park |
Getting There
[edit | edit source]- SEPTA Subway — City Hall Station (Market-Frankford or Broad Street Lines)
- Walking — Directly adjacent to City Hall's south entrance
- Location — Dilworth Park, South Broad Street side
Frequently Asked Questions
[edit | edit source]See Also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Octavius V. Catto Memorial". Octavius V. Catto Memorial Fund. Retrieved December 23, 2025