Statue Collection
As stated in its founding legislation, the National Statuary Hall Collection honors men and women who are “illustrious for their historic renown.” Each statue in this gathering of teachers, legislators, peacemakers, warrior, inventors, and explorers represents a brave and ambitious pioneer.
Learn about the State Statues
- Scroll through the images below to learn more about the current statues placed throughout the Capitol and their significance to each state.
Helen Keller, 1880–1968
Social Reformer
Social Reformer
State: Alabama
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Keller was one of the great reformers of the 20th century, championing many humanitarian causes. Blind and deaf from childhood, she took her first steps in a brilliant career at a water pump, when she recognized the symbol for “water.”
Edward Hlavka, Bronze, 2009
Joseph Wheeler, 1836–1906
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Alabama
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
“Fighting Joe” Wheeler became a powerful symbol of national unity after the Civil War. During his two decades in the U.S. House, the former Confederate general strove to heal the breach between North and South. Berthold Nebel, Bronze, 1923–1925
Edward Lewis “Bob” Bartlett, 1904–1968
Journalist, Statesman
Journalist, Statesman
State: Alaska
Location: House Connecting Corridor, 2nd floor, U.S. Capitol
Alaska’s “Founding Father” used his reportorial skills to publicize the case for statehood. A longtime territorial delegate, Bartlett won election to the U.S. Senate when Alaska joined the Union in 1959.Felix de Weldon, Bronze, 1971
Ernest Gruening, 1887–1974
Journalist, Statesman
Journalist, Statesman
State: Alaska
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
As Alaska’s territorial governor, Gruening lobbied for statehood and the crucial Alcan Highway and then served as one of the state’s first two U.S. Senators. A former journalist, he risked his Senate career by opposing the Vietnam War.George Anthonisen, Bronze, 1977
Barry Goldwater, 1909–1998
Statesman
Statesman
State: Arizona
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Goldwater, known for his candor and independence, launched the revival of American conservatism with his 1964 presidential campaign. As a five-term U.S. Senator, he also sponsored legislation that instituted major reforms in U.S. civil-military relations.
Deborah Copenhaver Fellows, Bronze, 2014
Eusebio F. Kino, 1645–1711
Missionary
Missionary
State: Arizona
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Father Kino explored and mapped more than 50,000 square miles of the American Southwest. He disproved the myth that California was an island. The Jesuit established numerous missions and rancherias that led to permanent settlements. Suzanne Silvercruys, Bronze, 1964
James Paul Clarke, 1854–1916
Statesman
Statesman
State: Arkansas
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
As governor and later as a U.S. Senator, Clarke promoted policies to protect agricultural and urban workers. Despite his notorious temper, the popular maverick was chosen by his colleagues to be the president pro tempore of the Senate.Pompeo Coppini, Marble, 1917–1921
Uriah M. Rose, 1834–1913
Lawyer, Statesman
Lawyer, Statesman
State: Arkansas
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
A leader of the state bar, Rose published legal commentaries and was president of the American Bar Association. He was also a U.S. delegate to the second Hague Peace Congress in 1907.Frederic Ruckstull, Marble, 1917
Ronald Wilson Reagan, 1911–2004
Statesman
Statesman
State: California
Location: Rotunda, U.S. Capitol
Nicknamed “The Great Communicator,” Reagan had an engaging manner and confidence in American ideas that made him a popular two-term president. Following his death in 2004, he lay in state in the same rotunda that today is adorned with his statue.Chas Fagan, Bronze, 2009
Junipero Serra, 1713–1784
Missionary
Missionary
State: California
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
As a leader of the “Sacred Expedition,” Serra founded Spain’s first California missions at about the time of the American Revolution. Among this string of nine religious outposts were San Francisco, San Juan Capistrano, and San Diego.Ettore Cadorin, Bronze, 1930
Florence Sabin, 1871–1953
Physician
Physician
State: Colorado
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Sabin was a leader in medical research and the first woman in the National Academy of Sciences. Her most influential work, the Sabin Health Laws, led to a major reform of the Colorado medical system.Joy Buba, Bronze, 1958
John “Jack” Swigert, 1931–1982
Astronaut
Astronaut
State: California
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Swigert was one of three astronauts aboard Apollo 13, the third moon mission. An in-flight mechanical disaster aborted the lunar landing attempt and transformed the crew’s return to Earth into a legendary fight for survival.George and Mark Lundeen, Painted bronze, 1997
Roger Sherman, 1721–1793
Statesman
Statesman
State: Connecticut
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
Sherman, a “Pillar of the Revolution,” signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. His “Connecticut Compromise” proposal for a House of the people and a Senate of states saved the Constitutional Convention.Chauncey Ives, Marble, 1870
Jonathan Trumbull, 1710–1785
Statesman
Statesman
State: Connecticut
Location: House Connecting Corridor, 2nd floor, U.S. Capitol
A member of the colonial elite, Trumbull served as governor and surprised many by backing American independence. He was the only colonial governor to be elected state governor.Chauncey Ives, Marble, 1869
John Clayton, 1796–1856
Statesman
Statesman
State: Delaware
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
As Secretary of State, Clayton negotiated the 1850 Clayton-Bulwer Treaty with Great Britain, which began the long quest to build a canal joining the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He also served as a U.S. Senator and as chief justice of Delaware.Bryant Baker, Marble, 1932
Caesar Rodney, 1728–1784
Statesman
Statesman
State: Delaware
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
Rodney showed his dedication to the Revolutionary cause when he rode 80 miles through the night to reach the Continental Congress. There he broke the deadlock in Delaware’s delegation in favor of independence from Great Britain.Bryant Baker, Marble, 1932
John Gorrie, 1803–1855
Physician, Inventor
Physician, Inventor
State: Florida
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Air conditioning, the invention that made summer bearable, began with John Gorrie. He reduced heat and moisture in the rooms of his malaria patients through an air-cooling system that also made ice.Charles A. Pillars, Marble, 1913
Edmund Kirby Smith, 1824–1893
Soldier
Soldier
State: Florida
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
When the Union navy gained control of the Mississippi River, Confederate General Smith virtually ruled the territory to the west. His command was the last Confederate force to surrender.Charles A. Pillars, Bronze, 1917
Crawford Long, 1815–1878
Physician
Physician
State: Georgia
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
A quiet country doctor, Long discovered the anesthetic effect of ether, experimenting with it in surgery. He eventually used it to help women in childbirth, including his wife.J. Massey Rhind, Marble, 1926
Alexander H. Stephens, 1812–1883
Statesman
Statesman
State: Georgia
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Early in his career in the U.S. House, Stephens worked to moderate tensions between Northern and Southern states. He opposed Georgia’s secession from the Union but agreed to serve as the Confederate vice president.Gutzon Borglum, Marble, 1926–1927
Father Damien, 1840–1889
Missionary
Missionary
State: Hawaii
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Father Damien ministered to lepers banished to a colony on Molokai. He spent his life providing medical care, housing, schools, and sanitation facilities for the colonists. He eventually succumbed to leprosy himself.Marisol Escobar, Bronze, 1968
Kamehameha I, 1758–1819
Monarch
Monarch
State: Hawaii
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Ruthless in war and just in peace, King Kamehameha united the Hawaiian Islands for the first time. He made possible the introduction of common laws and the opening of trade, after years of bloody civil war.C.P. Curtis and Ortho Fairbanks, after Thomas Gould, Bronze with gilt, 1968
William Borah, 1865–1940
Statesman
Statesman
State: Idaho
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol
A brilliant orator, the “Dean of the Senate” chaired the powerful Foreign Relations Committee from 1923 to 1933. Earlier he led the Senate fight for a federal income tax and the direct election of Senators.Bryant Baker, Bronze, 1946
George Shoup, 1836–1904
Statesman
Statesman
State: Idaho
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Shoup’s campaign for Idaho statehood made him the most popular politician in the territory. When Idaho entered the Union, the people elected him governor just as the legislature made him a U.S. Senator. Shoup chose to serve in the Senate.Frederick Triebel, Marble, 1909
James Shields, 1806–1879
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Illinois
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Shields was the only U.S. Senator to represent three states: Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri. A brigadier general during the Civil War, he also fought in the Black Hawk War and the Mexican War.Leonard Volk, Bronze, 1893
Frances Willard, 1839–1898
Social Reformer
Social Reformer
State: Illinois
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Willard’s Women’s Christian Temperance Union combated the scourge of alcohol abuse. Under the banner “Do Everything,” her world-famous movement inspired millions to agitate for social justice.Helen Mears, Marble, 1905
Oliver Hazard Morton, 1823–1877
Statesman
Statesman
State: Indiana
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Governor Morton mustered 6,000 men within a week of Lincoln’s first call for troops, testifying to Morton’s power and popularity during the Civil War. “If it was worth a bloody struggle to establish this nation,” he declared, “it is worth one to preserve it.”Charles Niehaus, Marble, 1900
Lewis Wallace, 1827–1905
Soldier, Author
Soldier, Author
State: Indiana
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
“Lew” Wallace’s classic adventure tale, Ben Hur, was immortalized twice on film. Wallace was also the Union general who defended Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., from Confederate raids.Andrew O’Connor, Marble, 1910
Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, 1914−2009
Scientist, Humanitarian
Scientist, Humanitarian
State: Iowa
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Borlaug grew up on a farm and spent most of his life in agriculture. His work in plant genetics led to greater crop yields in famine-stricken nations and a Nobel Peace Prize and Congressional Gold Medal for Borlaug himself.Benjamin Victor, Bronze, 2014
Samuel Jordan Kirkwood, 1813–1894
Statesman
Statesman
State: Iowa
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Kirkwood was one of the great Civil War governors. He raised more than 50 regiments of Union troops and swiftly crushed growing pro-slavery sentiment in the state. Following the war, Kirkwood served in the U.S. Senate. Vinnie Ream, Bronze, 1913
Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1890–1969
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Kansas
Location: Rotunda, U.S. Capitol
“Ike” commanded the bold Allied invasion at Normandy during World War II. His forces went on to liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation. Eisenhower’s engaging and open manner made him a popular two-term president and Cold War leader.Jim Brothers, Bronze, 2003
John James Ingalls, 1833–1900
Journalist, Statesman
Journalist, Statesman
State: Kansas
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Ingalls rose to prominence as an anti-slavery editor in the Kansas Territory. He won a seat in the state legislature before being elected to the U.S. Senate. At the pinnacle of his career, he served as president pro tempore of the Senate.Charles Niehaus, Marble, 1903–1904
Henry Clay, 1777–1852
Statesman
Statesman
State: Kentucky
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
The charismatic “Harry of the West” championed national unity as House Speaker and then as a U.S. Senator. Clay tirelessly bridged the growing sectional chasm by brokering the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850.Charles Niehaus, Bronze, 1928
Ephraim McDowell, 1771–1830
Physician
Physician
State: Kentucky
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
McDowell advanced the practice of abdominal surgery. Operating without the benefit of adequate anesthesia, he cured an impressive list of patients, including future president James K. Polk.Charles Niehaus, Bronze, 1928
Huey Pierce Long, 1893–1935
Statesman
Statesman
State: Louisiana
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
“The Kingfish” was the flamboyant political boss of Louisiana, serving its citizens as a powerful governor and an outspoken U.S. Senator. A hero to the poor, he modernized his state’s schools and highways.Charles Keck, Bronze, 1938–1940
Edward Douglass White, 1845–1921
Jurist, Statesman
Jurist, Statesman
State: Louisiana
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
White, a former U.S. Senator, served as an associate justice and then as chief justice of the United States. He was widely admired for his political skill at fostering collegiality on the bench of the high court.Arthur Morgan, Bronze, 1954
Hannibal Hamlin, 1809–1891
Statesman
Statesman
State: Maine
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
An outspoken opponent of slavery, Hamlin served as a U.S. Representative, a Senator, and a governor before being chosen as Abraham Lincoln’s first vice president. Charles Tefft, Bronze, 1933
William King, 1768–1852
Statesman
Statesman
State: Maine
Location: House Connecting Corridor, 2nd floor, U.S. Capitol
King led the long battle to separate Maine from Massachusetts. In 1820 he was elected Maine’s first state governor.Franklin Simmons, Marble, 1877
Charles Carroll, 1737–1832
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Maryland
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
Hailing from one of Maryland’s most prominent families, Carroll signed the Declaration of Independence, spent 23 years in the state legislature, and was a member of the Continental Congress and the U.S. Senate.Richard Brooks, Bronze, 1902
John Hanson, 1715–1783
Statesman
Statesman
State: Maryland
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Hanson was elected the first presiding officer, or president, of Congress under the Articles of Confederation. He raised soldiers and troops for George Washington’s army and won the respect of his colleagues in the Continental Congress.Richard Brooks, Bronze, 1902
Samuel Adams, 1722–1803
Statesman
Statesman
State: Massachusetts
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
“The Father of the American Revolution” plotted early acts of defiance against Britain. His local efforts, such as the Boston Tea Party and his protest of the Boston Massacre, ignited broader resistance in the other colonies.Anne Whitney, Marble, 1876
John Winthrop, 1588–1649
Statesman
Statesman
State: Massachusetts
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Winthrop hoped the “Puritan experiment” in America would “be as a Citty vpon a Hill.” A longtime governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, he built many of New England’s most enduring political traditions.Richard Greenough, Marble, 1875
Lewis Cass, 1782–1866
Statesman
Statesman
State: Michigan
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Cass served as territorial governor, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of War. Known as “the Father of Popular Sovereignty,” he argued that local inhabitants should decide whether slavery would exist in their territories.Daniel Chester French, Marble, 1889
Gerald R. Ford, Jr., 1913–2006
Statesman
Statesman
State: Michigan
Location: Rotunda, U.S. Capitol
President for less than three years, “Jerry” Ford used the trust and affection he earned over two decades in the House of Representatives to restore luster to a diminished presidency.J. Brett Grill, Bronze, 2011
Henry Mower Rice, 1817–1894
Statesman, Trader
Statesman, Trader
State: Minnesota
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Rice was a prominent trader and negotiator with the Winnebago and the Ojibwa peoples. As a territorial delegate, he wrote the legislation for Minnesota statehood before representing the new state in the U.S. Senate.Frederick Triebel, Marble, 1913–1916
Maria L. Sanford, 1836–1920
Educator
Educator
State: Minnesota
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
A beloved teacher and lecturer, Sanford was one of the first women to attain a collegiate professorship. She taught for two decades at the University of Minnesota before pursuing humanitarian projects and advocating woman suffrage.Evelyn Raymond, Bronze, 1958
Jefferson Davis, 1808–1889
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Mississippi
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
While serving as Secretary of War, Davis oversaw the expansion of the U.S. Capitol and the construction of its current dome. Later he resigned from the U.S. Senate to become president of the Confederacy.Augustus Lukeman, Bronze, 1928
James Z. George, 1826–1897
Statesman
Statesman
State: Mississippi
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
During his U.S. Senate career, George helped shape the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and was called the “Father of the Agriculture Department.” Colleagues and constituents knew him best as a formidable defender of states’ rights.Augustus Lukeman, Bronze, 1928
Thomas Hart Benton, 1782–1858
Statesman
Statesman
State: Missouri
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
“Old Bullion” Benton championed “hard money” coinage and expansion into the West. One of the first Senators to serve five terms, Benton was also among the few Union advocates from a border state.Alexander Doyle, Marble, 1895–1899
Francis Blair, Jr., 1821–1875
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Missouri
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
A former slave owner who rejected slavery, Blair raised “Home Guard” forces in the Civil War. His military leadership kept Missouri in the Union, but the conflict eroded his wealth and undercut his career in Congress.Alexander Doyle, Marble, 1895–1899
Jeanette Rankin, 1880–1973
Stateswoman
Stateswoman
State: Montana
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
In 1916, before women had the vote, Rankin became the first woman elected to the U.S. House. A devoted pacifist, she voted against U.S. entry into World War I and was the only member of Congress to oppose the declaration of war on Japan in 1941.Terry Mimnaugh, Bronze, 1985
Charles Marion Russell, 1864–1926
Artist
Artist
State: Montana
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
The man who recorded the vanishing frontier in painting and sculpture was born to wealth, but he wanted only to be a cowboy. Russell’s experience as an itinerant wrangler and ranch hand inspired the work that made him world famous.John Weaver, Bronze, 1957–1958
William Jennings Bryan, 1860–1925
Statesman
Statesman
State: Nebraska
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
“The Great Commoner” joined religious faith and oratorical skills as a presidential candidate to champion the people. He electrified silver supporters with his “Cross of Gold” speech, rejected entry into World War I, and opposed teaching evolution in schools.Rudulph Evans, Bronze, 1936–1937
J. Sterling Morton, 1832–1902
Statesman
Statesman
State: Nebraska
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
For years, Morton encouraged fellow Nebraskans to plant trees on the bare plains. This idea, adopted by many states, led to Arbor Day, now celebrated on April 22, Morton’s birthday.Rudulph Evans, Bronze, 1936–1937
Patrick A. McCarran, 1876–1954
Statesman
Statesman
State: Nevada
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
McCarran served as chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court. In the U.S. Senate, he authored sweeping laws to secure the Cold War home front from fears of domestic communism.Yolande Jacobson, Bronze, 1959
Sarah Winnemucca, 1844–1891
Author, Educator
Author, Educator
State: Nevada
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Raised in Paiute and European traditions, Winnemucca became a passionate advocate for Native culture. She gathered her many lectures into the first book published by a Native American woman.Benjamin Victor, Bronze, 2005
John Stark, 1728–1822
Soldier
Soldier
State: New Hampshire
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
Stark’s uncanny ability to anticipate and outmaneuver the enemy helped American soldiers win the Battle of Bennington. His initiative helped foil the British effort to isolate New England during the Revolutionary War.Carl Conrads, Marble, 1894
Daniel Webster, 1782–1852
Statesman
Statesman
State: New Hampshire
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Webster defended the Constitution and American nationalism as he fought to preserve the Union before the Civil War. A famous orator, he argued his principles in the halls of Congress, before the Supreme Court, and as Secretary of State.Carl Conrads, Marble, 1893–1894
Philip Kearny, 1814–1862
Soldier
Soldier
State: New Jersey
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Years after losing an arm in the Mexican War, this charismatic officer, reins in teeth and sword in hand, led Union troops during the Civil War. The death of this gifted commander was a blow to the North.Henry Kirke Brown, Bronze, 1873
Richard Stockton, 1730–1781
Statesman
Statesman
State: New Jersey
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
As a new member of the Continental Congress, Stockton signed the Declaration of Independence. He fell into British hands in less than a year, and the harsh treatment he received permanently ruined his health.Henry Kirke Brown, Marble, 1874
Dennis Chavez, 1888–1962
Statesman
Statesman
State: New Mexico
Location: Senate Wing, 2nd floor, U.S. Capitol
Chavez was the first Hispanic American to serve in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. During his 31 years in Congress, he lobbied for fair labor practices and defended the rights of ethnic minorities.Felix de Weldon, Bronze, 1966
Po’pay, 1630–1692
Religious Leader, Statesman
Religious Leader, Statesman
State: New Mexico
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Po’pay, a religious leader, led the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the most successful Native American rebellion ever mounted against European colonists. The revolt’s legacy preserved Pueblo autonomy for nearly two centuries.Cliff Fragua, Marble, 2005
George Clinton, 1739–1812
Statesman, Soldier
Statesman, Soldier
State: New York
Location: Senate Wing, 2nd floor, U.S. Capitol
Governor Clinton was a steadfast patriot and general in the Revolutionary War. Nonetheless, he opposed the Constitution under the pen name “Cato,” warning that a strong federal government would threaten New York’s prosperity.Henry Kirke Brown, Bronze, 1873
Robert R. Livingston, 1746–1813
Statesman
Statesman
State: New York
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
Livingston witnessed the birth and growth of the new nation. He signed the Declaration of Independence, swore in George Washington as the first president, and helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the nation’s size.
Erastus Palmer, Bronze, 1874
Charles Brantley Aycock, 1859–1912
Statesman
Statesman
State: North Carolina
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
Aycock believed schools were the cornerstone of social progress. As governor, he transformed North Carolina’s public education system, constructing nearly 2,000 schools and libraries.Charles Keck, Bronze, 1929–1932
Zebulon Baird Vance, 1830–1894
Statesman
Statesman
State: North Carolina
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
As a Civil War governor and military leader, Vance remained a loyal but reluctant supporter of the Confederacy. In the postwar U.S. Senate, his Union sympathies helped him build bridges between the North and the South.Gutzon Borglum, Bronze, 1916
John Burke, 1859–1937
Statesman
Statesman
State: North Dakota
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
“Honest John” rode a wave of popular support for Progressive programs all the way to the governor’s office. He championed new laws to protect the public, but his greatest legacy was reducing corruption in state politics.Avard Fairbanks, Bronze, 1962
Sakakawea, c. 1788–1812 (?)
Explorer
Explorer
State: North Dakota
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Carrying her infant son on her back, Sakakawea traveled thousands of miles with the Lewis and Clark expedition. The explorers credited their safe return in part to Sakakawea’s presence as a translator.Arizona Bronze Atelier, after Leonard Crunelle, Bronze, 2003
Thomas Edison, 1847–1931
Inventor
Inventor
State: Ohio
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Protean inventor and industrialist Thomas Edison held more than a thousand patents for everything from fruit preserving and mining equipment to his most famous creation, the electric light bulb. His innovations fueled the development of electric light and power utilities, motion pictures, and recorded music.
Alan Cottrill, Bronze, 2015
James A. Garfield, 1831–1881
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Ohio
Location: Rotunda, U.S. Capitol
To the nation’s horror, Garfield was assassinated just months after he became president. His career from log cabin to the White House included preaching, teaching, soldiering, and legislating.Charles Niehaus, Marble, 1884–1885
Will Rogers, 1879–1935
Journalist, Entertainer
Journalist, Entertainer
State: Oklahoma
Location: House connecting corridor, 2nd floor, U.S. Capitol
Born to a Cherokee mother, this cowboy humorist used early mass media to make shrewd observations about American culture. “My ancestors didn’t come over on the Mayflower,” Rogers said, “but they met the boat.”Jo Davidson, Bronze, 1938
Sequoyah, 1770–1843
Linguist
Linguist
State: Oklahoma
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Convinced that the English “talking leaves” would benefit his people, Sequoyah devised a Cherokee alphabet that was quickly adopted. It served both to preserve Cherokee culture and to ease Christian missionary efforts.Vinnie Ream and George J. Zolnay, Bronze, 1917
Jason Lee, 1803–1845
Missionary, Statesman
Missionary, Statesman
State: Oregon
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Lee led an early Methodist mission to the Pacific Northwest, where he became a leading advocate for the creation of the Oregon Territory. There he founded the Oregon Institute, now Willamette University.Gifford Proctor, Bronze, 1952
John McLoughlin, 1784–1857
Merchant
Merchant
State: Oregon
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
McLoughlin, the manager of Pacific Northwest outposts for British interests, extended aid and hospitality to American pioneers despite Anglo-American rivalry. U.S. settlers called him the “Father of Oregon” for his generosity.Gifford Proctor, Bronze, 1952
Robert Fulton, 1765–1815
Inventor
Inventor
State: Pennsylvania
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Fulton made history when he built the first successful American steamboat. His innovation transformed rivers into highways of travel and commerce. The steamboat ultimately became an American icon.Howard Roberts, Marble, 1883
John P.G. Muhlenberg, 1746–1807
Clergyman, Soldier, Statesman
Clergyman, Soldier, Statesman
State: Pennsylvania
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
The “Fighting Parson” left the pulpit to take up arms for American independence, eventually becoming a general. After the Revolution, Pennsylvania voters elected the war hero to Congress.Blanche Nevin, Marble, 1884
Nathanael Greene, 1742–1786
Soldier
Soldier
State: Rhode Island
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
The “Savior of the South” was a New England general. Greene’s tactical skills on the battlefield during the Revolutionary War liberated Georgia and South Carolina from numerically superior British forces.Henry Kirke Brown, Marble, 1869
Roger Williams, c. 1603–1683
Minister, Statesman
Minister, Statesman
State: Rhode Island
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Williams founded Rhode Island after being banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his controversial religious views. He had refused to compromise on “soul liberty,” or religious freedom, which called for a separation of church and state.Franklin Simmons, Marble, 1870
John C. Calhoun, 1782–1850
Statesman
Statesman
State: South Carolina
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
A fierce proponent of states’ rights, Calhoun fought for Southern interests while he attempted to keep the Union intact. The antebellum orator influenced U.S. policy, serving in both houses of Congress, as vice president, and as Secretary of War.Frederic Ruckstull, Marble, 1909
Wade Hampton, 1818–1902
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: South Carolina
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Born to an immensely wealthy slave-owning family, the Confederate war hero became South Carolina’s most popular politician. Hampton’s opposition to Reconstruction catapulted him into the governor’s office and the U.S. Senate.Frederic Ruckstull, Marble, 1929
William H.H. Beadle, 1838–1915
Educator
Educator
State: South Dakota
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Beadle’s provision in the South Dakota constitution preserved school lands by preventing them from being sold off cheaply. Congress later required similar plans when five western states applied for statehood, saving 22 million acres for schools.H. Daniel Webster, Bronze, 1911
Joseph Ward, 1838–1889
State Founder, Educator
State Founder, Educator
State: South Dakota
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Ward petitioned Congress for South Dakota statehood, drafted the state constitution, and composed the state motto, Under God the People Rule. He also established Yankton College, the first institution of its kind in the upper Mississippi Valley.Bruno Beghe, Marble, 1963
Andrew Jackson, 1767–1845
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Tennessee
Location: Rotunda, U.S. Capitol
“Old Hickory” became a national hero when he routed British forces at New Orleans during the War of 1812. As president, he struck down the national bank, defending the common man against the wealthy elite.Belle Kinney and Leopold Scholz, Bronze, 1927
John Sevier, 1745–1815
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Tennessee
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Sevier is known for his Revolutionary War victory at King’s Mountain. In less than an hour he subdued a British force that was larger than his. The popular frontiersman became one of the architects of the new state of Tennessee, serving as its first governor.Belle Kinney and Leopold Scholz, Bronze, 1931
Stephen Austin, 1793–1836
Statesman
Statesman
State: Texas
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
“The Father of Texas” was the leader of the Anglo-American settlers in the years before the Texas Revolution. Austin’s role was derived from his family’s successful efforts to attract settlers to the vast, empty stretches of northern Mexico.Elisabet Ney, Marble, 1904
Sam Houston, 1793–1863
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Texas
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Houston abandoned a brilliant career in Tennessee to live with the Cherokee, eventually wandering westward. A key military leader during the Texas Revolution, he served as president of the Republic of Texas and, after its statehood, as a U.S. Senator.Elisabet Ney, Marble, 1904
Philo T. Farnsworth, 1906–1971
Inventor
Inventor
State: Utah
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
“The Father of Television” was a high school student when he devised his system to transmit and project electronic images. By the time Farnsworth died, televisions were equipped with 100 components of his design.James Avati, Bronze, 1990
Brigham Young, 1801–1877
Statesman, Religious Leader
Statesman, Religious Leader
State: Utah
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Their founder murdered, Young took command of the Mormon faithful and led a mass migration to Deseret (present-day Utah). Young’s leadership and practicality transformed the wilderness into a prosperous religious community.Mahonri Young, Marble, 1947
Ethan Allen, 1738–1789
Soldier
Soldier
State: Vermont
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Allen was one of Vermont’s most colorful founders. A hard-drinking philosopher and orator, Allen and his ragtag militia, the Green Mountain Boys, captured Fort Ticonderoga in the first offensive action of the American Revolution.Larkin Mead, Marble, 1874–1875
Jacob Collamer, 1792–1865
Statesman
Statesman
State: Vermont
Location: Senate Wing, 1st floor, U.S. Capitol
Noted for his clear thinking and wisdom, the “Green Mountain Socrates” rose to prominence in his state government and then served as a U.S. Representative, a Senator, and a postmaster general.Preston Powers, Marble, 1879
Robert E. Lee, 1807–1870
Soldier
Soldier
State: Virginia
Location: Crypt, U.S. Capitol
Torn between state and country, Lee chose to defend Virginia during the Civil War, reluctantly declining command of the Union army. His bold tactics as commander of the Confederate forces, which were usually outnumbered, are still studied today.Edward Valentine, Bronze, 1909
George Washington, 1732–1799
Soldier, Statesman
Soldier, Statesman
State: Virginia
Location: Rotunda, U.S. Capitol
“The Father of His Country” twice yielded, rather than seized, the nation’s reins of power. After the Revolution, Washington resigned as military leader, and after two terms as president, he returned to private life as a gentleman farmer.William Hubard, after Jean-Antoine Houdon, Bronze, 1909
Mother Joseph, 1823–1902
Architect, Missionary
Architect, Missionary
State: Washington
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Mother Joseph’s architectural and building skills led her far away from the cloistered life of the convent. She designed and helped construct dozens of missionary schools, hospitals, and orphanages in the Pacific Northwest.Felix de Weldon, Bronze, 1980
Marcus Whitman, 1802–1847
Missionary, Physician
Missionary, Physician
State: Washington
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
Whitman and his wife, Narcissa, ministered to Native Americans during their early missionary years in the Pacific Northwest. As more settlers came to the region, the Whitmans turned to providing medical and spiritual care to weary migrants.Avard Fairbanks, Bronze, 1950
John E. Kenna, 1848–1893
Statesman
Statesman
State: West Virginia
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Kenna championed U.S. economic progress in West Virginia. As a Representative and a Senator, he crafted laws to spur the mining and timber industries in his home state. Kenna’s untimely death cut short his promising career in the Democratic Party.Alexander Doyle, Marble, 1897–1901
Francis Pierpont, 1814–1899
Statesman
Statesman
State: West Virginia
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Pierpont set up a pro-Union government in Virginia. As provisional governor, he carved out a new state from the loyal portions of Virginia and became “the Father of West Virginia.”Franklin Simmons, Marble, 1903
Robert M. La Follette, 1855–1925
Statesman
Statesman
State: Wisconsin
Location: National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol
“Fighting Bob” was the reforming governor who laid a political framework for the Progressive Movement. La Follette’s “Wisconsin Idea” shifted power from party machines to voters. As a U.S. Senator, he became a leading spokesman for isolationism.
Jo Davidson, Marble, 1928
Jacques Marquette, 1637–1675
Explorer, Missionary
Explorer, Missionary
State: Wisconsin
Location: House connecting corridor, 2nd floor, U.S. Capitol
Father Marquette plied the Mississippi River by canoe, opening the way for French settlement. The first European to chart the upper river, he chronicled geographic features, recorded Native American customs, and claimed land for the French.
Gaetano Trentanove, Marble, 1895
Esther Hobart Morris, 1814–1902
Suffragist, Jurist
Suffragist, Jurist
State: Wyoming
Location: Hall of Columns, U.S. Capitol
Morris was an early proponent of suffrage and equitable property rights for women. When she was appointed justice of the peace in 1870, she became the first woman judge in U.S. history.Avard Fairbanks, Bronze, 1958
Washakie, c. 1800–1900
Warrior, Peacemaker
Warrior, Peacemaker
State: Wyoming
Location: Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Washakie was a young warrior when the Shoshone selected him as chief during a chaotic period. His policy of coexistence with U.S. settlers brought relative peace and stability. Fort Washakie was named to honor his military cooperation against the Sioux.Dave McGary, Painted bronze, 2000