The 20-foot-tall bronze statue of Christopher Columbus once towered over visitors to Columbus City Hall in the 15th century Italian explorer's largest namesake city. Now it sits in a storage room three years after being removed from its pedestal and likely won't return to its perch as the city reconsiders Columbus' legacy and controversial history.

The City of Columbus is investing $3.5 million, including $2 million in grant money to "re-contextualize" the statue to explain his legacy as it is understood today and uplift the stories of underrepresented residents.