GW Hippo Statue

Since GW's mascot is a Colonial, you are all probably wondering why there is a giant statue of a Hippo in one of the quads (H/21st). It was donated to the class of 2000 by President Trachtenberg. GW also has a restaurant named after it (River Horse Bistro at the U Club). GW's website has an explanation of this legend.
I don't know if the link will work, so I also copied and pasted the explanation below.
Enjoy!
Nicole

http://www.gwu.edu/~gwpres/hippo.html

GW's River Horse
Legend has it that the Potomac was once home to these wondrous beasts. George and Martha Washington are even said to have watched them cavort in the river shallows from the porch of their beloved Mount Vernon on summer evenings.

Credited with enhancing the fertility of the plantation, the Washingtons believed the hippopotamuses brought them good luck, and children on the estate often attempted to lure the creatures close enough to the shore to touch a nose for good luck.

So, too, many generations of students of The George Washington University.

Art for wisdom,
Science for joy,
Politics for beauty,
And a Hippo for hope.

How many hippos do you know with their own Web site?