Taking Liberties

I'm taking the liberty of sharing a couple of photos -- and an interesting story -- with you.

Above, Lady Liberty in Dubuque, Iowa's Washington Park.To the right, another replica Lady Liberty that I photographed -- in this case, in front of the Finney County Courthouse in Garden City, Kansas. (Incidentally, this Courthouse has another claim to fame, it was the location of the 1960 murder trial of Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, recounted in Truman Capote's remarkable book, In Cold Blood).

But back to the Lady Liberties. What's the story about the origins of these 8 foot 4, copper-clad replicas?

According to Boy Scout Troop 101 from Cheyenne, Wyoming, "There are over 200 of these replicas in 39 states in the U.S. and several of its possessions and territories. The project was the brainchild of Kansas City businessman, J.P. Whitaker, who was then Scout Commissioner of the Kansas City Area Council. ... All were erected in the early 1950's by Boy Scout troops and others to celebrate Scouting’s 40th anniversary theme, 'Strengthen the Arm of Liberty.' " If you go to Troop 101's very cool web page, you can see photos of more than one hundred of these replica Statues of Liberty.

For more about the fascinating history of these unique pieces of American public art, and the challenge of preserving them, see Little Sisters of Lady Liberty, on the American Profile magazine web site.