McKee announces historic repairs to Independent Man, State House dome
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee announced Friday the Independent Man and the dome on top of the State House where he stands will undergo historic repairs.
The Independent Man statue will touch the ground for the first time in nearly 50 years.
“The Independent Man is an iconic symbol of our state and a source of pride for all Rhode Islanders,” McKee said. “The statue has weathered decades of storms, blizzards and hurricanes, and it is important that we use this opportunity to invest in the People’s House and preserve the Independent Man for generations of Rhode Islanders and visitors to enjoy.”
McKee said state employees took video of the dome this week that showed the marble base under the statue was starting to separate.
The Independent Man on top of the Rhode Island State House will undergo historic repairs and preservation. (Department of Administration)
The video was to document the ongoing State House cleaning and restoration project.
A crane and work crew were set up on Friday morning, hoping to take the first steps to fix the separation before any possible impacts of Hurricane Lee hit the Ocean State.
Once the first phase of work is done, the Independent Man will come down from his spot on top of the dome.
The McKee Administration will sort out options for ways to display the statue for the public to see up close before he gets placed back.
“We are grateful that our surveillance of the building revealed the damage to his base, allowing us to act quickly to safeguard this important piece of Rhode Island history and address any damage to the statue’s marble base before it could become a safety issue,” said Jonathan Womer, director of the Department of Administration.
Officials said the Independent Man was designed by artist George Brewster and cast by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence. It is covered in gold leaf and stands 11 feet tall, weighing more than 500 pounds.
The state asked the public not to fly drones or other devices near the statue or the State House during the work.
