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Committee weighs options for Billy Frank Jr. placement amid political sensitivity over Marcus Whitman
Summary
DES presented structural and location options for installing a Billy Frank Jr. statue on the Capitol campus; some third‑floor placements would require destructive structural reinforcement, and members discussed alternatives (pedestal, second‑floor placement) to avoid damage and minimize political blowback about moving Marcus Whitman.
DES staff presented study findings and options for where to place the Billy Frank Jr. statue on the State Capitol campus and summarized structural, cost and political considerations.
Options on the 3rd floor (State Reception Room and adjacent locations) would give prominent settings but, according to the structural study, would require reinforcement work that could damage historic plaster and ceiling finishes. DES said consultants proposed an alternate pedestal/platform approach to disperse statue weight without destructive reinforcement inside the floor structure. The most expensive option shown — placing the statue in front of the State Reception Room window — had a conceptual cost estimate up to about $237,000; less costly options included placement on the 2nd floor that would avoid moving other statues.
Committee members discussed two related political factors that bear on site selection: (1) two emailed public comments supported removing the Marcus Whitman statue entirely, and (2) there are legislative voices and family concerns opposed to removing Marcus Whitman from the Capitol Building. Several members noted that placing Billy Frank Jr. in the northern part of the building where Marcus Whitman and other statues already sit could prompt strong reaction. The lieutenant governor and others urged sensitivity to those political realities and recommended options that avoid removing existing statues or damaging historic fabric.
DES said the committee would not vote today and that the matter will return to the July 23 joint meeting for a decisional item after further consultation with stakeholders, tribal partners and legislators. DES also said the earliest possible installation (if a location is selected quickly) could be September, with a more realistic target in early 2027 depending on logistics and any required structural mitigation.
