Statue of Freedom

sculpture by Crawford

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July 21, 2026

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The Statue of Freedom is a colossal sculpture designed by American sculptor Thomas Crawford. It was posthumously cast and installed atop the dome of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., in 1863. Crawford completed the plaster model for the 19.5-foot-tall statue before his death. The bronze casting weighs 15,000 pounds and was assembled in pieces atop the Capitol dome. Crawford was a leading American sculptor of his time, known for his Neoclassical style.1

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Thomas Crawford
9-metre-) tall Statue of Freedom sculpture when he died suddenly at age 43. The model, which was shipped by boat in five pieces from Rome to Washington, D.C., was finally cast in bronze in 1862, and, weighing 15,000 pounds (6,800 kg), was installed in pieces atop the…
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9-metre-) tall Statue of Freedom sculpture when he died suddenly at age 43. The model, which was shipped by boat in five pieces from Rome to Washington, D.C., was finally cast in bronze in 1862, and, weighing 15,000 pounds (6,800 kg), was installed in pieces atop the…
Read More