Dec
15

December 15, 1890

The “Statue of Freedom” plaster figure designed by sculptor Thomas Crawford in Rome and used to cast the statue atop of the United States Capitol Building is given to the Smithsonian Institution. The statue first came to Washington, D.C., in 1858 and was placed in the old hall of the House of Representatives, then in the basement of the Capitol. The statue is is placed in the Rotunda of the Arts and Industries Building where it remains until 1967.

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Posted: 15 December 2010
About the Author:

Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.