Petitioners Want To Replace Columbus With Rt. 1 Orange Dinosaur

SAUGUS, MA — As debate ignites over whether Boston's Christopher Columbus statue – which was taken down after losing its head last week – should remain in the North End, some petitioners think they've found a worthy replacement: the Route 1 orange dinosaur.

The iconic statue towered over the Route One Miniature Golf & Batting Cages for years and was preserved by developers of Essex Landing when the business was sold. It now watches over the "Gateway to Malden," where Route 99 splits from Route 1.

A petition to replace Columbus with the landmark has received nearly 3,400 signatures. Their reasoning behind the swap is surprisingly compelling:

"For ages the Route 1 dinosaur has been a symbol of guidance for our people," one petitioner wrote. "In the world of Rugrats, the children idolize Reptar, and this orange dinosaur could be the Reptar for our United States, a powerful stalwart mentor and protector of this fine nation."

"The orange dinosaur has a much deeper and more positive historical connection with the North Shore than Christopher Columbus ever had," another wrote. "Also one of these things is a ruthless carnivore, exploiting his fellow creatures without remorse or repentance. And the other is a statue of a T.rex."

While the petition to swap the monuments is largely tongue-in-cheek – and unlikely to succeed, no matter how many signatures it gets – the debate over Columbus's spot in the North End is anything but a joke. The statue was beheaded and promptly removed last week, while Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said he wants to "take time to assess the historic meaning of the statue" before deciding if it should return.

Columbus, one of the first Europeans in the New World, is credited by many for discovering America. But critics say his legacy is tarnished by his violent treatment and killing of Native Americans, as well as ushering in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.