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The Statue Story
The "Back" Plaque:
On the back of the statue base is a brief history of how the present statue and plaza arrived at this place and time. It is reproduced here. The text is also printed below.
The Sea Scouts troops and Boy Scout troops of Seattle erected our "Little Sister of Liberty" here at Alki Beach in 1952 sd part of a national campaign to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. This campaign, led by Jack Whitaker, a Kansas City scout leader, encouraged scouts across America to place these statues in their communities as an important reminder of the value of liberty and freedom cherished by all. Between 1948 and 1952, more than 200 replicas, which are 1/18th the size of the original in New York Harbor, were placed in 39 states and four American territories.
Over the years, wind, water and the salty air deteriorated the copper covering of Alki's original statue. In the 1990s, the Liberty Deli gathered donations to make repairs and to eventually recast the statue. In 2004, the Northwest Program for the Arts began a new effort to recast the statue by selling inscribed bricks for a new plaza and pedestal. In 2006, the statue was recast by The Bronze Works in Tacoma.
Further fundraising to compelte the Plaza was accomplished by the Seattle Statue of Liberty Plaza Project, and their fiscal sponsor, Urban Sparks, in partnership with Seattle citizens, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the City of Seattle.
This monument stands a a symbol of the freedom and love of liberty in which we all believe, and is a testimony to the citizen activism, and the generosity of spirit of the Alki Beach community, donors from Seattle, and across the country.
The new plaza was dedicated on September 6th, 2008.
Libby and Paul Carr, Co-Chairs, Seattle of Liberty Plaza Project
Greg Nickels, Mayor, City of Seattle — The Seattle City Council
Tim Gallegher, Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreason
Architects: Matt Hutchins, Cast Architecture — Christopher Ezzell, E Workshop
Landscape Architect: Susan Black and Associates
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