Goddess Of Liberty atop the Texas State Capitol, Austin, Texas. (original) (raw)

Texas | Statues or
What's a girl like you doing on a Capitol like this?

by Brewster Hudspeth

	The Goddess up close Photo Courtesy TxDoT

The statue that sits atop the Capitol in Austin is something of a mystery. Her name, origin and even the material she's made of have been debated for years. No one can say with certainty if she is a Goddess of Wisdom, Justice, Victory - or even if she is a �Goddess� at all. No woman ever stepped forward to claim posing for the statue and when the statue is observed up close - it become very clear. The "strong" features were intentionally exaggerated to make her appear "normal" when viewed from below. She's quite startling when viewed up close.

Over the years there have been several men who have claimed that a female ancestor of theirs had the honor of posing. (No woman has made such a claim.)

Goddess of Liberty in front of the Texas State Capitol
Vintage Photo Courtesy Texas State Library And Archives

	The only known miniature statue. Courtesy Harold Bell and Family

The Late Harold Bell of Decatur, Texas was observant enough to recognize a miniature of the statue at a Wise County foundry a few years ago. He bought it and took it home - where it sits in a place of honor. Originally the miniature statues were to be mass produced and sold to patriotic Texans. There is little doubt that the 14-inch casting is related to the original, although on this one the facial features have been softened somewhat - so as not to frighten children.

	The attempt at reinstallation in the mid 1980s). Photo courtesy TxDoT

Bee-stung lips? A restoration of the Capitol in the mid-1980s cleared up at least one point concerning the statue. It was finally determined that she was zinc. Other discoveries revealed her head had once held a hive of bees with her generous nostrils providing entrance and egress. Another discovery was a still-readable 1888 newspaper.

After sandblasting, primer and paint, the goddess was ready to ascend back to her beautiful perch - not an easy project. The National Guard Sikorsky Skycrane that had taken her down was supposed to put her back in place - but the last phase was much more difficult than the first. High winds extended the 20-minute operation to multiple tries over the next three days. Austinites held their breath and the drama saturated local news. Just ask any Austinite where they were "the day the goddess returned." Chances are, they'll answer: "Goddess? What Goddess?"

� John Troesser

Bibliography:

• Article: The Capitol�s Lady by Audray Bateman, The Texas Folklore Society ed. By Francis Edward Abernethy, E-heart Press, 1981
• Interview with Harold Bell, Decatur, Texas, January 2003
• Texas Highways Magazine

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