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Looks like D.C. is going to need a “Respect Joseph Henry” campaign, too.

A statue of Henry, the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall was also vandalized by green paint, as NBC4 first reported. The vandalism was reported on Friday, July 26, according to Sergeant Paul Brooks of the U.S. Park Police. It’s unclear how long the painted symbols and scribblings have been on the statue, which is located outside the Smithsonian Castle.

Park Police are investigating, Brooks said.

Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas told DCist the vandalism was noticed Sunday afternoon. The paint will be removed from the base, which is made of granite, in a day or two by Smithsonian maintenance, according to St. Thomas.

The discovery came on the same day the Lincoln Memorial was vandalized by green paint, which was splattered on the base of the sculpture. As of this morning, approximately 90 percent of the paint had been removed, according to National Park Service spokeswoman Carol Johnson.

Brooks said it’s unknown if there’s any connection between the Lincoln Memorial and Henry statue vandalism.

Meanwhile, green paint was also found splattered in two chapels at the Washington National Cathedral, as Washington City Paper first reported. A Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman confirmed that “property was defaced” at the Cathedral and that officers are investigating. In a press release, the Cathedral said an organ Bethlehem Chapel was found strewn with green paint, which was still wet, this afternoon. Paint was also found in the Children’s Chapel.

The National Cathedral is now closed to the public, an official said.

Update: An MPD spokeswoman told DCist a woman was arrested for vandalizing the National Cathedral. Read more about the arrest here.

Which historical D.C. site or statue will be next? Please don’t let it be Fala.

Filed Under: lincoln memorial, park police, Smithsonian castle, vandalism, washington national cathedral,