Get a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration of the Independent Man

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — ABC6 was on hand Friday as crews worked to restore the Independent Man to State House condition.

Crews worked to apply the gold leafing to the statue, and that will soon cover the entire 11-foot tall structure, giving it a glistening look at the peak of the state’s capitol.

Mark Rabinowitz is in charge of the restoration process and says the Independent Man is in great condition and has been cleaned, with corrosion removed from worn out gold plating.

It was then re-plated with pure gold and will then be applied with gold leafing that will make the Independent Man shine from near and far away.

“The visitors will see it entirely gilded and it will look bright and beautiful and consistent,” said Rabinowitz. “He will be glistening and brilliantly gold and represent the best and most honorable tradition of Rhode Island to its finest.”

Once the gold leafing is complete, the statue will have to sit and go through a curing process before it can moved back to its home atop the state house.

Rabinowitz estimates their work should be done in the next few weeks, and then it’s the governor’s decision for when the Independent Man will be moved and lifted back up to its home.