The original equestrian statue representing King Carol I was unveiled in 1939 and was positioned in this same spot. Unfortunately, in early 1948 following the dissolution of the monarchy, the communists took down this statue and proceeded to have it melted down. The melted bronze was then used to mould a new statue of Vladimir Lenin, the founder and first leader of the Soviet Union. Lenin’s statue was placed in front of the Spark House (known today as the Free Press House), which back then served as the main headquarters of the communist propaganda machine in Romania. Soon after the Communist regime’s downfall in Romania, the Lenin statue was taken away and hidden from the public, though it wasn’t melted down like that of King Carol I..