PROVIDENCE, RI - Governor Dan McKee today announced that members of the public wishing to see the Independent Man up close should mark their calendars for the first week in December. The 15-foot statue will be removed from public view by December 9 to begin preparations for its future travel to the top of the State House. The actual date of the lift, which is weather-dependent, should take place sometime between December 12 and 20 and will be announced later in December.  

“I am happy that the Independent Man will be back home for the holidays this year,” said Governor Dan McKee. “For the past six months, the lobby of the State House has been filled with visitors impressed by the newly gilded and skillfully crafted Independent Man statue, and I encourage any Rhode Islanders who have not yet had the opportunity to see him in person to do so before he journeys back to the top of the State House.” 

Last year, drone footage revealed a crack in the marble base upon which the statue rests, creating a potential stability issue. The State worked quickly to remove the statue by crane. After determining that the statue itself was not damaged, it was moved offsite to undergo restoration of its surface before being temporarily installed in the State House lobby. 

Meanwhile, the State reviewed the construction of the marble mount that supports the statue and then contracted with the Georgia quarry from which the original State House marble was sourced more than 100 years ago. Production and shipment of the Georgian marble, originally scheduled to arrive earlier this fall, was delayed due in part to Hurricane Helene, changing the anticipated timetable for the statue’s return to the State House cupola. 

Once the statue is initially secured to the top of the building, it will remain hidden behind covered scaffolding for a period of time. This will protect workers and the conservator as they make any final touch-ups to the statue’s surface. The scaffolding will then be slowly disassembled, after which time the statue will once again be visible, overlooking the capital city.