Note: The survey is not currently working. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Back in February, a state senator introduced a bill that aimed to replace a statue of Maine’s first governor, William King, in the U.S. Congress’ National Statuary Hall.
Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon, wanted to see Civil War hero Joshua Chamberlain take King’s place in the hall, which features statues from two famous people from each of the 50 states.
The legislature ended up funding a study to examine this issue — like it does — to the tune of $3,000.
Basically, the question is: Does anybody want to replace one — or both — of these statues? And if so, with whom should we replace them?
Which brings us to this week, when the Maine Arts Commission sent out a survey asking people exactly those questions.
The group, along with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and the Maine State Museum, has 10 possible replacements on a survey, but you can write in your own if you want.
Here’s the list:
- Joshua Chamberlain
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Percival B. Baxter
- Winslow Homer
- Leon Leonwood Bean
- Molly Molasses
- Rachel Carson
- Margaret Chase Smith
- Frances Perkins
- Edna St. Vincent Millay
Who do you think deserves to be immortalized in the museum? Take the survey here.
