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Committee reviews placement options for Marcus Whitman and Billy Frank Jr. statues; studies due in April, decisional meeting set for July
Summary
DES presented feasibility options for relocating Marcus Whitman and Billy Frank Jr. statues on the Legislative Building and on-campus spaces; studies are due in April, an informational meeting is scheduled for May 7, and a decisional supplemental meeting is set for July 23, 2026.
DES assistant director Kimberly Sokol gave the State Capitol Committee and Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee an informational briefing on options under study to determine where the Marcus Whitman and Billy Frank Jr. statues should be placed on the Legislative Building and adjacent campus spaces. The study examines several locations — inside the State Reception Room (north or south walls), visible hallway/window sites, a location between third-floor columns, and positions to the left or right of the Senate Dining Room entrance — and will report engineering feasibility and cost estimates by April.
The committee was told that placing a statue in the State Reception Room may present visibility and lighting issues: from certain reception-room positions visitors would see a statue’s back, and natural light could backlight a statue and create shadowing. DES noted some locations are in spaces closed to the public except for special events, while other options would place statues in high-traffic hallways where they would be consistently visible.
Committee members and legislators emphasized different priorities. Senator Fortunato said a prominent, publicly accessible placement would show respect for the figures and avoid stirring debate over moving other statues; Lieutenant Governor (speaking during the meeting) urged caution and suggested the legislature itself might need to provide guidance because the enabling legislation did not specify locations in the building. DES staff said additional studies are under contract and intended to produce both feasibility findings and cost estimates to inform a final decision.
The committee set next steps: DES will deliver study results by April, present the findings at an informational meeting on May 7, and the joint SCC/CDAC will hold a supplemental decisional meeting on July 23, 2026, from 10–11 a.m., with the statue locations as the single agenda item.
The chair noted the committee will also consult tribes and other interested parties and invited further stakeholder input before the July decisional meeting. No final relocation or installation decision was made at this session.
