A Rhode Island Icon Restored

In September 2023, a drone survey conducted during marble cleaning at the Rhode Island State House revealed a large void beneath the iconic Independent Man statue. The damage, likely caused by a lightning strike, left the 14-foot tall bronze statue potentially unstable. The Rhode Island Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance engaged DBVW Architects, East Coast Masonry & Restoration (ECMRI), and EverGreene Architectural Arts to carefully remove the statue, repair the cupola masonry, and restore this important symbol of Rhode Island’s history.

The Independent Man was lowered to the ground in December 2023 and transported to the Armory of Mounted Commands building in Providence, where conservators cleaned and restored its bronze surface. In a return to the statue’s original design, the team re-gilded it with 23.75-karat gold leaf — replicating the brilliance first envisioned by architect Charles McKim and sculptor George Brewster over a century ago. This specialized work combined traditional artistry with modern conservation technology, supported by local expertise and craftsmanship.

While the statue was being restored, DBVW worked with ECMRI to restore the upper portion of the State House cupola. Using marble that DBVW hand-selected from the same quarry in Georgia that supplied the original building stone, the team replicated damaged marble units. On December 18, 2024 — exactly 125 years after its first installation — the Independent Man was lifted back into place atop the restored dome, gleaming once again over the Rhode Island State House.