PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Governor Dan McKee today announced that the Independent Man will finally be making its way back “home for the holidays.” The Independent Man will be removed for public viewing by December 9, according to a release, and will be lifted back on top of the state house’s dome between December 12 to 20. An official date will be announced. All through the fall, work crews have been preparing for the arrival of the new marble to replace the damaged pedestal and drum for the Independent Man, according to a spokesperson for the state Department of Administration. The last time the Independent Man was taken down from the State House was back in the mid-1970s, however this time, he was taken down back in late 2023 after the marble base of the statue was revealed to be compromised. Plans were underway to return the Independent Man to the top of the State House “this fall,” however, there were disruptions to the fabrication process due to Hurricane Helene. The storm caused a delay in delivery of the marble sourced from the same Georgia quarry used to build the State House over 125 years ago. “I am happy that the Independent Man will be back home for the holidays this year,” said McKee. “For the past six months, the lobby of the State House has been filled with visitors impressed by the newly gilded and skillfully crafted Independent Man statue, and I encourage any Rhode Islanders who have not yet had the opportunity to see him in person to do so before he journeys back to the top of the State House,” he said. Once the statue is initially secured to the top of the building, it will remain hidden behind covered scaffolding for a period of time, according to the McKee’s office, which will protect workers and the conservator as they make any final touch-ups to the statue’s surface. The scaffolding will eventually be slowly disassembled, after which time the statue will once again be visible to overlook Providence. Categories: News