“An ice cream cone!” That’s what a child once exclaimed when asked what the Little Liberty Sculpture was holding. This Little Liberty Sculpture may be smaller than the original but it holds a big place in Seattle’s heart.
The Little Liberty Sculpture is a replica of the Statue of Liberty. It stands here at Alki Beach Park. The Boy Scouts of America installed it in 1952.
Imagine over two thousand Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts parading down Alki Avenue. The Seattle Area Council president helped raise funds for the original Statue of Liberty. The city’s participation was a no-brainer.
The Little Liberty Sculpture is only 7.5 feet tall. That’s about five percent of the original’s height. The statue faces north toward Elliott Bay.
Originally the statue was made of stamped copper sheets. Vandals repeatedly damaged it. Someone even stole the crown. In 1975, some jerks tied a rope around her base. They attached it to a car and toppled Lady Liberty from her base.
But there were heartwarming moments too. In 1986, a scout gave our Little Liberty Sculpture her first bath in decades. After the 9/11 attacks, locals gathered here. They left flags, flowers and cards.
In 2004, plans began to recast the sculpture in bronze. The old statue was removed in 2006. It was sent to a foundry in Tacoma. The restoration cost one hundred forty thousand dollars.
The Little Liberty Sculpture was reinstalled on September 11, 2007. A new plaza was dedicated in September 2008.
The Little Liberty Sculpture sits near the spot where the Denny Party first came ashore. This group named their new settlement New York Alki. The Little Liberty Sculpture’s origin traces back to the Boy Scouts of America campaign. This celebrated the organization’s 40th anniversary in 1950.
The program “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty” placed 200 replica statues across the United States. 39 states and four American territories received their own Lady Liberty.
Today only about 100 of these replicas still stand nationwide. Surviving damage and disrespect has made this monument a potent symbol of freedom. So take a moment to appreciate this Little Liberty Sculpture. It’s a reminder of liberty’s enduring spirit.