Meet the Filmmaker Who’s Building Monuments for American Legends—Including Trump.
From battle-scarred war zones to the iconic landscapes of America’s greatest achievements, filmmaker and monument visionary Steven C. Barber is a man who breathes life into legacies. For two decades, Barber has worn many hats—three-time Oscar-shortlisted documentary filmmaker, storyteller of American exceptionalism, and now, one of the nation’s most prolific monument makers.
Barber’s latest masterpiece, The World’s Most Dangerous Paper Route (Peacock), delves into the courageous lives of combat reporters and the Stars and Stripes military newspaper. Yet his reach extends far beyond the lens—he is crafting bronze monuments that honor America’s pioneers, from astronauts to Olympians. With humility and unrelenting drive, Barber sums up his mission simply: “I’m not here to judge history. I’m here to record it.”
From Filmmaker to Monument Visionary
Steven Barber’s journey began with award-winning documentaries that told stories of America’s military heroes and unsung sacrifices. Through his company, VanillaFire Productions, his films have graced platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Peacock. However, as the film industry shifted, Barber faced a personal turning point:
“I had lost the ability to find funding for my films. On a mountain bike ride, I had this Field of Dreams moment—’build it, and they will come.’ That lightning bolt sparked my next chapter: monuments.”
And build he did.
Barber partnered with renowned Lundeen sculptors to create towering bronze monuments of American legends. Among them:
- The Apollo 11 Crew Monument at the Kennedy Space Center, created alongside Buzz Aldrin.
- The Apollo 13 Monument, honoring the “greatest successful failure” with Captain Jim Lovell.
- Sally Ride Monument, the first American woman in space, unveiled at the Reagan Presidential Library.
A Mission for Equality and Representation
Barber’s passion for celebrating history goes beyond space explorers. His focus now includes honoring women and underrepresented figures. “The appalling lack of female monuments in America is staggering,” Barber explains. “Only 1% of our monuments feature women, and for women in science, it’s nearly zero.”
His dream projects currently include:
- A Monument for Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.
- The Rafer Johnson Monument, honoring the legendary Olympian ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Barber doesn’t shy away from controversial projects either. He recently completed a monument for Donald J. Trump, slated for installation at Trump International Golf Course in Palm Beach.
“Whether you like Donald Trump or don’t like him is moot. Every president deserves to be honored.”
Steven Barber’s Unstoppable Vision
Today, Barber juggles up to 10 monument projects at any given time. His work is fueled not by accolades but by purpose:
“Once you taste purpose, the taste of simply existing is completely unsatisfying.”
For Steven C. Barber, each monument is more than bronze—it’s a timeless celebration of human potential, crafted to inspire generations to come.
The appalling lack of monuments for women and minorities must be fixed—and I’m on it.
