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Minnesota's Lady Liberty is laid out, future uncertain

On Jan. 13, 2026, City of Duluth crews removed an 8-foot, 4-inch replica of the Statue of Liberty during seawall and Harbor Drive pedestrian reconstruction and placed it in city storage with its pedestal tablets stacked nearby.
Because of safety and condition concerns, officials said a 2014 Duluth Public Arts Commission assessment found corrosion and deformations, and Robert Hurd warned, `If it's standing upright, it could fall over`.
Ray Bartholdi, descendant of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, presented the replica during the 1976 bicentennial donation, with the pedestal built in 1976 at an estimated cost of $20,000.
The Duluth Public Arts Commission is deciding whether to repair or deaccession the statue and says interested private parties have approached them.
`This year, we had some conservators come up from the Cities and take a nice good look at it and give us their recommendations for what it would take to repair it and put it in good standing,` Gardonio said. The Duluth replica is one of many Scout-produced replicas.

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Minnesota's Lady Liberty is laid out, future uncertain

DULUTH — She leans forward against a bench, her gaze turned toward the snowy ground. Her crown has lost most of its spikes, but her posture remains proud. "If it's standing upright, it could fall over," said Robert Hurd, construction project supervisor with the city of Duluth. "If it's not propped up, it could get run over." Hurd was speaking about the 8-foot, 4-inch replica of the Statue of Liberty that is being stored on a piece of city proper…

5 days ago·Cherokee County, United States

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