A West Seattle community is rallying its neighbors to help preserve an iconic symbol.Alki Community Council has launched a campaign to raise funds for repairs
A West Seattle community is rallying its neighbors to help preserve an iconic symbol.
Alki Community Council has launched a campaign to raise funds for repairs and preservation work on the miniature Statue of Liberty replica at Alki Beach.
The original statue was donated in 1952 by the Boy Scouts of America.
Over the years, Lady Liberty suffered from vandalism; the statue's crown was damaged, the torch was stolen, and Lady Liberty's arm even disappeared.
Then, in 2007, the statue was recast in bronze and eventually installed in the surrounding Statue of Liberty Plaza in 2008.
The recast statue is the same nearly 8-foot statue many know today.
"People come here for the most important moments in our nation's history," said Charlotte Starck, president of Alki Community Council.
In the days following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many spontaneously gathered at the statue to mourn and reflect. A smaller memorial of flowers and candles for this year's 25th anniversary of the dark day can still be found at the base of the statue.
But as the statue has weathered years of rain, king tides, and other natural impacts, it now requires more maintenance, Starck said.
"We have a more urgent need that we're trying to address right now," she explained. "All these seams that connect it are crumbling, and it's getting spidering cracks horizontally."
An image showing some of the cracks forming in the pedestal under Lady Liberty found on Alki Beach. (KOMO)Alki Community Council is aiming to raise $5,000 to give Lady Liberty's pedestal a new protective coat.
A contractor recommends bridging the cracks with a reinforcing fabric membrane and waterproofing material before applying a new micro-cement finish, according to Starck.
Any additional funds raised past $5,000 would go directly to a general maintenance fund for the statue, which is held by Seattle Parks and Recreation. Starck said that fund is quickly running out.
"The city parks department pays for no maintenance of this area; it is 100% citizens that need to take care of it," she added.
Alki Community Council has an agreement with Seattle Parks and Recreation, but the mortar repairs currently needed are not covered under said agreement.
Starck believes the need to take care of Seattle's Statue of Liberty is heightened in America's 250th year. "I think this statue means everything in Seattle. It means everything that we stand for as a nation. It's everything that we love about being free," she said.
The goal is to raise funds this fall and schedule maintenance in early spring 2027.
