Governor William Goebel, (sculpture).

Governor William Goebel, (sculpture).

Niehaus, Charles Henry, 1855-1935, sculptor.

Adams, Ross C., architect.

William Adams & Son, contractor.

Marr and Gordon, carver.

Governor William Goebel, (sculpture).

Modeled before Aug. 1905. Installed June 30, 1913. Dedicated March 11, 1914. Relocated 1963.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: marble or limestone or granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 8 ft. x W. 55 in.; Base: 8 x 6 x 6 ft.

C. H. Niehaus Cast by Roman Bronze Works (Inscribed on marble:) GOVERNOR/WILLIAM GOEBEL/THE ABLE AND MOST EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE/AND CHAMPION OF THE PEOPLE'S CAUSE/THEIR LOVED AND LOYAL FRIEND./ON JANUARY 30TH 1900 HE WAS SHOT/DOWN BY AN ASSASSIN FROM THE PRIVATE/OFFICE OF THE THEN SECRETARY OF STATE./BORN JANUARY 4TH, 1856/DIED FEBRUARY 3, 1900/"TELL MY FRIENDS TO BE/BRAVE AND FEARLESS AND LOYAL/TO THE GREAT COMMON PEOPLE."/HIS LAST WORDS.

(On right side of base: text by William Jennings Bryan) (On left side of base:) SERVED AS STATE SENATOR/FOURTEEN YEARS/1886 TO 1900/MEMBER OF/CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,/1890 TO 1819/AUTHOR OF/THE ANTI LOTTERY/FRANCHISE TAX LAW/THE PIONEER IN/AMERICAN RAILWAY/REGULATION LAW/THE CHAMPION OF/SCHOOL BOOK LEGISLATION/FELLOW SERVANT LAW/EMPLOYEES LIABILITY LAW (On back of base:) ERECTED BY/THE STATE OF KENTUCKY/IN MEMORY OF/KENTUCKY'S MARTYR GOVERNOR/WILLIAM GOEBEL/WHO DEVOTED AND HAVE/HIS LIFE/IN DEFENSE OF/THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE/'THE QUESTION IS: ARE THE CORPORATIONS/THE MASTERS OR THE SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE" signed Founder's mark appears.

Standing figure of Governor Goebel, with proper right leg forward and arms crossed in front. Proper right hand is holding scroll.

Portrait male -- Goebel, William -- Full length

Occupation -- Political -- Governor

Occupation -- Political -- State Senator

Outdoor Sculpture -- Kentucky -- Frankfort

Administered by State of Kentucky, Office of Historic Properties, Berry Hill Mansion, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Located Old State House, Grounds, Frankfort, Kentucky

Formerly located Kentucky New State Capitol, Frankfurt, Kentucky 40601

On March 25, 1904, the State voted to appropriate $20,000 for a memorial to William Goebel (Acts of General Assembly, 1904, pg. 283-4), to be erected "upon the Capitol grounds or in the new Capitol building," then intended to be built at that site. The sculpture was erected on the grounds of the new Capitol building in 1913; and dedicated in March 1914. It remained at that site until Dec. 2, 1963, when it was relocated to the Old State Capitol building grounds, near where Goebel was assassinated. IAS files contain related article from Louisville Courier-Journal, Dec. 3, 1963; and transcription of text on right side of base.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Kentucky survey, 1993.

Office of Historic Properties, Berry Hill Mansion, 1990.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, KY0009, 1989.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

Monumental News, Aug., 1905; Oct., 1908; April, 1914.

Monumental News, Oct., 1908, pg. 735.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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