I Am Queen Mary

A powerful harborfront monument honoring rebel leader Mary Thomas, confronting Copenhagen’s colonial past beside the historic West Indian Warehouse.

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I am Queen Mary

Standing in front of the former West Indian Warehouse on Copenhagen’s harborfront, **I Am Queen Mary** is a striking, larger‑than‑life sculpture honoring Mary Thomas, a leader of the 1878 labor rebellion on St. Croix in the former Danish West Indies. Created by artists La Vaughn Belle and Jeannette Ehlers, the work confronts Denmark’s colonial past and the legacy of slavery, placing a Black rebel woman where imperial power once ruled. This powerful waterfront monument blends art, memory, and political reflection in a single, unforgettable figure.

A brief summary to I am Queen Mary

Vestindisk Pakhus, Toldbodgade 40, Copenhagen, Indre By, 1253, DK
Visit website
Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
Free
Outdoor
Mobile reception: 5 out of 5

Local tips

Bring a light jacket: the harborfront can feel cooler and windier than the rest of the city, even on sunny days.
Allow extra time to walk around the neighboring warehouses and read any interpretive panels to better understand the colonial context.
Visit during early morning or late afternoon for softer light that accentuates the sculpture’s details and the brick façade behind it.
Combine your stop here with a visit to nearby cultural institutions along the harbor to deepen your sense of Copenhagen’s historical waterfront.
If you plan to photograph the sculpture, step back toward the water’s edge to capture both Queen Mary and the full length of Vestindisk Pakhus.

Getting There

Public transport from central Copenhagen

From the central city area, use an Inner City bus line that serves the harborfront near Amalienborg and the main waterfront axis; the ride typically takes around 10–20 minutes depending on traffic. A standard single bus ticket within the city zones usually costs in the range of 20–30 DKK when bought via ticket machines or mobile app. Buses generally run every 5–15 minutes during the day, with reduced frequency in the late evening.
Harbor bus along the waterfront

A scenic option is the public harbor ferry service that runs up and down Copenhagen’s inner harbor and calls at piers near major cultural sites. Travel times vary between 10 and 25 minutes from central stops, depending on where you board. Tickets for the harbor bus are integrated with the regular public transport system and are usually in the 20–30 DKK range for a single ride. Services may be less frequent in winter and during bad weather, so check current timetables before planning your trip.
Cycling from the city center

Copenhagen’s dedicated cycle lanes make it straightforward to reach the harbor area by bike in about 10–20 minutes from most central neighborhoods. You can use city bikes or standard rentals, typically costing from around 75–150 DKK for a day’s access depending on the provider and bike type. The route is predominantly flat and well signed, but be prepared for strong winds along the waterfront and follow local cycling etiquette in the busy central stretches.
On foot via the harbor promenade

If you are already in the inner city, you can walk to the sculpture via the continuous harborfront promenade in roughly 20–35 minutes, depending on your starting point. The walk is flat and paved, but sections can be exposed to wind and occasional wet patches in bad weather. This option is free of charge and allows you to take in other historic buildings and waterfront views along the way, though it may be less suitable for visitors with limited mobility.

I am Queen Mary location weather suitability

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Discover more about I am Queen Mary

A rebel queen on Copenhagen’s waterfront

I Am Queen Mary rises from a plinth on the quayside outside the old West Indian Warehouse, her gaze fixed out over Copenhagen’s harbor. The seated figure is monumental, with a calm yet defiant posture that immediately commands attention. At first glance, she recalls traditional statues of monarchs and military heroes, but the composition quickly subverts that expectation: this is not a king or a general, but a Black woman in work clothes, holding symbols of resistance. The sculpture was created by artists La Vaughn Belle, from the US Virgin Islands, and Jeannette Ehlers, based in Denmark. Unveiled in 2018, it is widely recognized as the first major public monument in Denmark dedicated to those who suffered under Danish colonialism. The very choice of site – directly in front of the West Indian Warehouse – underlines the link between the harbor’s mercantile wealth and the forced labor that made it possible.

Mary Thomas and the Fireburn uprising

The figure portrayed is Mary Leticia Thomas, known as Queen Mary, one of four women who led the 1878 labor revolt on the Caribbean island of St. Croix, then part of the Danish West Indies. Plantation workers, formally emancipated in 1848 but still trapped in harsh conditions and low wages, rose up against the plantation system. During the rebellion, known as the Fireburn, large parts of the town of Frederiksted and surrounding plantations were set ablaze. The uprising was brutally repressed, and Queen Mary and other leaders were sentenced to life imprisonment. For a time, Mary Thomas was incarcerated in a women’s prison in Copenhagen, far from the Caribbean climate and community she knew. The sculpture reconnects those separated geographies, reminding visitors that Denmark’s colonial history is not a distant abstraction but one that once brought Caribbean rebels to these very shores.

Symbols woven into the sculpture

Look closely at the details and the monument reveals layers of meaning. Queen Mary sits on a cane chair, evoking the sugarcane that once filled warehouses along this quay and underpinned the region’s wealth. In one hand she holds a torch, in the other a cutlass-like tool, direct references to the burning of plantations during the Fireburn rebellion. These objects transform everyday implements of labor into emblems of resistance and self‑determination. The artist duo combined 3D scans, historical references, and contemporary portraiture to create the work. The surface texture and clothing speak to a working woman, rather than a royal dressed in finery, while the monumental scale places her visually on par with European rulers depicted elsewhere in the city. The result is a sculpture that both belongs to the classical harbor setting and quietly challenges its visual traditions.

The West Indian Warehouse as a backdrop

Behind the statue stands the long brick mass of Vestindisk Pakhus, completed in the early 1780s to serve the West India Company. The warehouse was part of the infrastructure that organized and profited from trade with the Danish West Indies, including goods produced by enslaved labor. Its solid, almost austere façade forms a historical backdrop, turning the space between building and harbor into a kind of open‑air stage for reflection. Today, the building is known for housing the Royal Cast Collection, an extensive assembly of plaster casts of classical sculptures. Inside, rows of white bodies from Greco‑Roman and European traditions fill the high warehouse spaces, while outside, I Am Queen Mary introduces another body and another history to the narrative. The juxtaposition of classical ideals and a monument to anti‑colonial struggle underscores how art, power, and memory have long been entwined here.

A place for reflection and conversation

Visiting the sculpture is as much about atmosphere as it is about information. The harbor air, the low hum of passing cyclists, and the steady presence of the warehouse create a contemplative setting. There is no grand plaza; instead, the monument stands at human scale to the quay, inviting you to walk around it, linger on the steps, and consider the stories usually left out of European cityscapes. Interpretive texts and materials nearby may change over time, but the core experience remains the encounter with Queen Mary herself: a figure whose calm strength suggests both the cost of resistance and the possibility of rethinking what – and who – is commemorated in stone and metal. For many visitors, this quiet corner of the harbor becomes a starting point for exploring Copenhagen’s wider colonial architecture and history.

Art, memory, and an evolving city

I Am Queen Mary is not a relic but part of an ongoing conversation about how cities remember their pasts. Its creation involved collaboration across the Atlantic, linking the contemporary communities of the US Virgin Islands and Denmark. The sculpture also connects to wider debates about monuments, public space, and whose stories are physically present in the urban fabric. As Copenhagen’s waterfront shifts from working harbor to cultural promenade, the statue anchors a more complex narrative of the city’s prosperity. It reminds passersby that the same quays that now host art installations and leisurely strolls once saw ships loading goods tied to colonial exploitation. In that sense, this single figure of a seated woman holds an entire web of histories, making the harborfront not only picturesque but also thought‑provoking.

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

I am Queen Mary

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A powerful harborfront monument honoring rebel leader Mary Thomas, confronting Copenhagen’s colonial past beside the historic West Indian Warehouse.

Larsens Pl.

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Horn mine

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A disarmed World War II naval mine displayed in Churchill Park, turning a former weapon of the sea into a quiet reminder of conflict amid central Copenhagen’s greenery.

Our Fallen

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A bronze tribute to World War II sacrifice, standing sentinel at Kastellet's gate since 1957.

Iver Huitfeldt Memorial

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A towering tribute to Admiral Huitfeldt's heroic last stand at sea, crowned with Victory.

Hans Christian Andersen plaque

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Nyholm Central Guardhouse

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Sankt Annæ Pl.

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Monument to Denmark's international activities after 1948

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Discover the Monument to Denmark's International Activities in Kastellet: A historical landmark celebrating Denmark's global contributions since 1948.

Monument to Denmark's international activities after 1948

St. Paul's Church

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Neo‑Romanesque red brick meets ochre-yellow naval housing at this calm parish church, giving Nyboder a quiet spiritual heart amid central Copenhagen.

The Little Mermaid

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Bredgade 18

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Nyhavnsbroen & Nyhavn

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Nyhavn

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Copenhagen's iconic 17th-century harbor where colorful townhouses, maritime history, and vibrant waterfront culture converge.

Maritime Monument

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Elegant all‑day French‑Danish bistro on Kongens Nytorv, pairing brasserie classics with prime people‑watching and a lively, chandelier‑lit atmosphere.

Step off the cobblestones of Gammel Mønt into Henrik Vibskov’s offbeat fashion laboratory, where avant‑garde silhouettes, artful interiors and curated design collide.

Urban Outfitters

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Trendy multi-level fashion and lifestyle store bringing Urban Outfitters’ eclectic clothing, homeware and vinyl mix to the heart of Copenhagen’s Østergade.

Essential bars & hidden hideouts

Black Swan

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Aloha Beach Bar

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Brønnum

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An opulent, multi‑room cocktail bar steps from Kongens Nytorv, where historic townhouse elegance meets contemporary mixology and candlelit late‑night conversation.

Bar Deco

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TATA Cocktail Bar

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A velvet-draped, fireplace-warmed cocktail hideaway inside Hotel Sanders, where classic mixology, Danish design and theatre-inspired charm blend seamlessly.

Balthazar

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A luxurious Champagne bar at Hotel d’Angleterre, pairing an extensive bubbles list and crafted cocktails with velvet-luxe interiors and a lively DJ-backed ambience.

1105

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Trykbar

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The Moose

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Graffiti-plastered walls, infamous moose murals and cheap late-night beers make this smoky Indre By dive bar a gritty, unpolished slice of Copenhagen nightlife.

Charlie's Bar

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Bo-Bi Bar

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Gejser Bar

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Eiffel bar

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K-Bar

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Ved Stranden

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Nightclubs & after hour spots

Culture Box

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Mini Bar

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Lusso

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The Zoo

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Operaen

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Chateau Motel

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Arch

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Mirage

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Dive into the electrifying nightlife at Mirage, Copenhagen's premier night club for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and entertainment.

Hive

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Rumors

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Discover the heart of Copenhagen's nightlife at Rumors, where energetic vibes and unforgettable nights await you.

Mirror

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Miami Bar

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La Terraza

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Dorsia

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Cosy Bar

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Discover the lively atmosphere of Cosy Bar, a top gay nightclub in Copenhagen offering fantastic music, vibrant crowds, and unforgettable nights.

Your Ultimate Free Travel Guide

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I Am Queen Mary

A brief summary to I am Queen Mary

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

Public transport from central Copenhagen

Harbor bus along the waterfront

Cycling from the city center

On foot via the harbor promenade

I am Queen Mary location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of I am Queen Mary

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about I am Queen Mary

A rebel queen on Copenhagen’s waterfront

Mary Thomas and the Fireburn uprising

Symbols woven into the sculpture

The West Indian Warehouse as a backdrop

A place for reflection and conversation

Art, memory, and an evolving city

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

I am Queen Mary

Larsens Pl.

Horn mine

Our Fallen

Iver Huitfeldt Memorial

Hans Christian Andersen plaque

Nyholm Central Guardhouse

Sankt Annæ Pl.

Monument to Denmark's international activities after 1948

St. Paul's Church

The Little Mermaid

Bredgade 18

Nyhavnsbroen & Nyhavn

Nyhavn

Maritime Monument

Unmissable attractions to see

Amaliegade

Designmuseum Danmark

St Alban's Church

Amaliehaven

Springvandet i Amaliehaven af Arnaldo Pomodoro

Gefion Fountain

Bredgade Kunsthandel

Medicinsk Museion

Rytterstatuen

Amalienborg

ZinkGlobal by Kim Michael

Amalienborg Palace Museum

St. Alexander Nevsky Church

Copenhagen Opera House

Kongeskibet Dannebrog

Essential places to dine

Aoc

Restaurant Rebel

Khun Juk

Kokkeriet

Skipperkroen

Restaurant Vita

Cap Horn

Restaurant Koefoed

Nyhavns Færgekro

Den Lille Fede

Noma

La Banchina

Goldfinch

Restaurant Barr

Bistro Royal

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

The Crown souvenir

Royal Souvenir Shop

Maritime Antiques &

Copenhagenglass

Zane

The Wilde Shop

Viking Souvenirs

Welcome Giftshop & Souvenirs

Danish Souvenirs & luggages

Copenhagen Souvenir & Design