When will the Independent Man come down for repairs? Here's the state's timeline.
The Independent Man on top of the Rhode Island State House is expected to be brought down to Earth for repairs this fall, Gov. Dan McKee's office said Tuesday.
Gaps in the marble platform where the bronze statue sits were discovered last month and since then engineers have been studying how best to repair the statue, and when.
"If everything continues to go according to plan, we believe the Independent Man will be brought down from atop the State House sometime before Thanksgiving," McKee Press Secretary Olivia DaRocha wrote in an email.
"Engineers have determined that some sections of the dome-shaped marble under the Independent Man have separated and are damaged," she wrote. "The marble 'drum' that helps keep the statue in place also has cracks. The man, the pedestal and the drum will all need to come down for repairs."
More: Politics? TV? Once he's brought from his perch, what will the Independent Man do next?
In anticipation of lowering the statue, workers are building scaffolding at the top of the State House and "designing rigging" to transport pieces to the ground, she said. To make sure no pieces fall from the dome, the statue is being held in place with cables.
A bronze, gilded statue designed to represent freedom and sovereignty, the Independent Man was installed on the State House in 1899.
The last time it was taken down from the building, also for repairs, was in 1976.
Want more of our politics coverage right on your phone? Download our free app for personalized news alerts and feeds based on your interests.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Independent Man statue may come down off RI State House before Thanksgiving
