Maine's Statues in Washington, D.C.: to Replace or Not to Replace?

Public survey poll based on 2015 legislation

AUGUSTA, ME—Three of the state’s cultural agencies have been tasked by the Maine legislature with a study regarding the possible replacement of two statues of historic Maine leaders. The statues are currently on display, along with two from each of the other 50 states, in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. They depict William King, Maine’s first governor, and Hannibal Hamlin, a Maine governor and Abraham Lincoln's Vice-President. In addition to examining costs, procedures, and general feasibility, the cultural agencies are seeking public opinion on the statues. To that end, all Mainers are invited to weigh in by December 15 on a very brief survey on the question “to replace or not to replace?”

The study is being conducted by the Maine Arts Commission, Maine Historic Preservation Commission and the Maine State Museum, and will result in recommendations and estimated cost estimates regarding the potential replacement of one or both of the statues.

Take the survey at http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebv8xkavih6i34zm/start

The concept of a National Statuary hall originated in the middle of the 19th century. Each of the 100 statues is the gift of a state, not of an individual or group of citizens. For each statue, the state must pass resolutions that not only name the citizen to be commemorated and cite his or her qualifications, but specify a process for selecting the sculptor and a method of obtaining the necessary funds to carry the resolution into effect.

To see who else is represented in the national statuary collection, see the list of all state statues at http://www.aoc.gov/capitol-hill/national-statuary-hall-collection/nsh-location.

For further information please contact the Agency at 287-8647.

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