Pike was commissioned in the Confederate army as a brigadier general, but his wartime career lasted less than two years. His men were accused of scalping Union troops, and he was eventually forced to resign. He received a reprieve from President Andrew Johnson and moved to Washington, D.C., where he died in 1891.

The NPS says that refurbishing and reinstalling the toppled statue “aligns with federal responsibilities under historic preservation law”

The National Park Service will restore and reinstall the Albert Pike statue in Washington, D.C., sparking controversy over its historical significance.