“Statue of Freedom”
at the Cerritos Sculpture Garden
Updated October 12, 2016
The “Statue of Freedom” is a replica of the original bronze figure that stands atop the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The piece is cast in bronze and measures seven feet, six inches tall (not including the pedestal on which it stands).
The “Statue of Freedom” depicts a female figure in flowing draped clothing with her right hand resting on the hilt of a sword and her left hand holding a laurel wreath of victory and the shield of the United States with 13 stripes. The “Statue of Freedom” stands on a base encircled with “E Pluribus Unum,” a Latin phrase meaning “Out of Many, One,” which was adopted as the motto of the Great Seal of the United States, and refers to the original 13 colonies united as one. The base is carved in granite in the likeness of the original cast-iron globe.
The original statue is 19 feet, 6 inches tall and was designed by Thomas Crawford in 1855 to symbolize “Freedom Triumphant in War and Peace.” The placement of the “Statue of Freedom” near ground level in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden allows the public to view it up close and appreciate what stands on top of the Capitol Dome.
The “Statue of Freedom” is located in the center of the Cerritos Sculpture Garden and includes lighting for night viewing. The piece was sculpted by Michael Maiden of Sandy, Oregon, who also created the “Falcon” sculpture at The Grove at Cerritos.
