Neptune on the Potomac - The Awakening - Hains Point
Just about a mile from the National Mall along the beautiful Potomac 
River is East Potomac Park. This National Park is popular with local runners, skaters, bikers and picnickers. It also has an 18 and two 9-hole golf courses as well as tennis courts and a miniature golf course.
But I think the highlight is at the end of the park, on a peninsula called Hains Point. There you’ll find a most interesting sculpture called The Awakening. It’s a giant 5-part cast aluminum statue that looks like a 100 foot tall bearded man. He’s mostly buried and appears to be struggling to free himself, with only his face contorted in a scream, a single hand, arm, one bent knee and a foot exposed above ground. I believe the face looks Neptune-ish.
Created by American sculptor J. Seward Johnson, Jr., and installed in the park in 1980 for the International Sculpture Conference Exhibition; it has arguably become one of the most popular non-monument sculptures in DC.
Kids love to play on it and photographers love to snap photos of it. The sculpture was even featured in the Sandra Bullock film, The Net.
The “temporary” National Park permit that was issued for the sculpture expired more than 25 years ago, but it seems as if it is so well liked by residents and the Park Service, that it’s become a welcomed and permanent resident of the park.
When the Potomac River swells during after heavy rains, the statute may actually be partially under water.
It’s said that Johnson likes to occasionally visit his statues and while posing as a tourist, make negative comments about it to onlookers to get their honest reaction to his pieces.
Johnson is probably best known for making life-sized sculptures of people in normal daily life. And for turning famous Impressionist painting, such as Gustave Caillebotte’s Paris Street; Rainy Day or Vincent Van Gogh’s The Bedroom, into controversial life-sized sculptures. If these pieces are viewed from the just the right angle, they resemble the famous Impressionist piece it was based on.
Within view of National Airport, park visitors can also watch planes take off and land and get a great view of the National War College and the Potomac River.
Want to take The Awakening home with you as a souvenir? Reportedly, it’s for sale by the artist for around $700,000.
Hains Point – The Awakening
About ¾ miles south 1090 Ohio Dr. SW, Washington, DC 20001, at the end of the Hains Point.
Nearest Metro Subway stop: Smithsonian on the Blue and Orange lines (about about 2½ miles)
20 Comments
Looks like a great place for a photo op. I can’t wait to take my kids.
Love your site.
Thanks Julie!!!
I think you mean “HAINS” (no “e”) Park, right?
Thanks Robert - You are correct!!!!
Jon
Many years Wash. DC traveler…saw this magnificent
work on Friday, Nov. 24, 2006. We did not know
what it was. The person I was with is an
Arlington resident. He had never seen it, but
knew vaguely what it was. We both loved it.
Glad I found this website with the information.
Thank you.
I have lived in the DC for over 15 years and never knew about this sculpture. I must see it and bring my kids as I know this will tickle their fancy. Can’t wait to see what else is in your “fun and quirky places” and am sharing this blog with all my friends. Very cool.
Thanks Holli. Hains Point is a great place for photo ops with the kids. Plus, if the kids like it, you can buy the sculpture for $700K and plant it in your backyard. That would be cool.
Yes indeedy Sir, that would be a great idea. Maybe I can find the 700K needed under the couch cushions?
The Awakening is wonderful. I wish you could have sold it to the National Park Service to keep it in Washington.
Thanks!!!!!!!!
Vivian:
The sculpture is still at Hains Point, but it’s been for sale for years. Hopefully, it will never sell. We don’t want to lose it like the recent loss of the Magna Carta at the Archives.
Watch next month, as I’ll be postnig sa a few night time photos of The Awakening on The DC Traveler.
[...] relaxing viewing location might be at Hains Point (mile 17) along the picturesque Potomac River in East Potomac Park. Pack a picnic and make an [...]
[...] couple months ago, I took a drive out to Hains Point and took a few photographs of The Awakening, a 5-part aluminum sculpture by J. Seward Johnson, [...]
[...] has since become one of the most popular non-monument sculptures in Washington, DC and a great photo op for parents with kids, lovers and tourists alike. At night, the sculpture has an eerie yet [...]
Has anyone seen the Awakening without limbs, just the head in the ground? When I was a kid I saw it without the limbs and I thought that occasionally and the gradually uncovered him.
I haven’t, but perhaps if someone has, they can comment.
im a kid and i love the Hanis Point statue!!
I’ve seen this sculpture back in 1996, and I was absolutely blown away. It is absolutely magnificent. I took pictures of it and I even posed on the hand of it….it was great. I remember standing there for a good 10 minutes looking at how it is just so perfectly sized. I mean, it was unbelievable. To this day, when I think of my DC visit, this sculpture always gets talked about. This is a MUST SEE for anyone that can enjoy art…even if you could careless, it is something that you will remember forever!
My family and I are going to DC to visit. This will be their first and my second, but I will make sure that I show them this spectacular piece of art!
Christelle:
Just remember that the statute was moved to National Harbor.
Here’s my post on the new location, along with a couple photos.
http://www.thedctraveler.com/visiting-an-old-friend-the-awakening/
I used to visit “The Awakening” often as a teenager, 1982-85. I thought it was great. We just moved back to this area. That was the first thing we wanted our children to see. We were so disappointed when we got there and it was gone. This was about 2 wks ago. It was killing me wondering what happened and why it was gone. I am so happy I now know that it still exists. We will be taking a trip soon to see it at it’s new home. Now the kids will know that we did not just make this up. Lol
In my opinion, the new location at National Harbor is not as good as the old location at Hains Point, but the kids shoulds still love to play on the big old guy.