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All the United States Rhode Island Providence Gun Totem

Gun Totem

This 3,500 pound obelisk was constructed with more than 1,000 reclaimed guns.

Providence, Rhode Island

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  Dapper Dan 9 / Atlas Obscura User
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Gun Totem   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Standing 12 feet high in front of Providence's Federal Courthouse is an unusual monument constructed out of steel, concrete, and used handguns.

Dubbed the "Gun Totem" by its artist, Boris Bally, the imposing obelisk was constructed in 2001 with guns from a firearm buy-back program in Pittsburgh. Altogether, more than 1,000 guns went into the construction of the pillar, which was commissioned by the Providence Parks Department. All of the guns included in the project were disabled and fossilized beneath concrete, and bits of the pillar were chipped away so people could see the deadly layer beneath the its exterior.

Bally has teamed up with the gun program in Pittsburgh again and has been working on a new project, a series of gun-arches, using disabled handguns in the area.

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This totem is across the street from the courthouse in South Main St. right along the sidewalk

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Edited By

Allison, jooltman, ickaimp, Dapper Dan 9...

  • Allison
  • jooltman
  • ickaimp
  • Dapper Dan 9
  • blimpcaptain
  • Tuna732

Published

January 9, 2012

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Gun Totem
South Main St
Providence, Rhode Island, 02903
United States
41.825116, -71.407587
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