Independent Man to remain in State House through Friday

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Islanders have one more chance to view the Independent Man before it departs for restoration.

According to the office of Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, the iconic Rhode Island fixture will remain in the State House for viewing through Friday, Jan. 5.

“The Independent Man is not only an iconic symbol of local history, but also a representation of Rhode Island’s spirit,” said McKee. “I encourage members of the public to visit the State House this week, take a selfie with the statute, sign our official guest book and become part of Rhode Island history.”

The Independent Man was taken down in December, with visitors from over 20 states stopping to view the 14-foot statue and sign the official guest book.

The statue will undergo repairs to the gold plate, and a gold leaf will be applied on top of that to return it to its original appearance.