Commonwealth (statue) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commonwealth |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Artist | Roland Hinton Perry |
| Year | 1905 |
| Type | Gilded statue |
| Location | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
The Commonwealth statue is a huge, shiny golden statue. It sits on top of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It's about 14 and a half feet (4.4 meters) tall!
People sometimes call it Miss Penn or the Spirit of the Commonwealth. Another nickname is Letitia. This name comes from William Penn's daughter. William Penn founded Pennsylvania.
What Does the Commonwealth Statue Look Like?
The Commonwealth statue represents what a commonwealth is all about. A commonwealth is like a state where people work together for the common good.
The statue stands on a large globe that is 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide. In its left hand, it holds a staff. This staff is a symbol of justice. The top of the staff has a beautiful garland and an eagle with its wings spread wide. The statue's right arm is always reaching out. This gesture is a blessing for the state of Pennsylvania.
The History of the Commonwealth Statue
The famous sculptor Roland Hinton Perry created the Commonwealth statue. It was placed on top of the Capitol dome on May 25, 1905.
Many years later, in the summer of 1998, the statue needed some work. A helicopter carefully lifted it off the dome for restoration. After it was repaired and cleaned, a special Skycrane helicopter put it back in place. This happened in September of the same year.
