Reagan statue arriving Wednesday

A statue of former President Ronald Reagan is scheduled to make its Capitol Hill entrance in the National Statuary Hall Collection on Wednesday.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan will join congressional leaders for the unveiling ceremony, which is set to include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

In 2006 the California legislature approved the statue, which will replace a statue of Thomas Starr King, the 19th century orator. Traditionally every state is allowed to have two statues on the Capitol grounds that honor notable men and women from their respective state. And though Reagan was born in Illinois, he was a
key player in California politics and civic life as its governor.

California’s other state statue is of Father Junipero Serra, an 18th century Franciscan friar.

–Jordy Yager