The statues of two iconic figures in Wyoming’s history, Esther Hobart Morris and Chief Washakie, have recently been moved to the Capitol Extension building in Cheyenne, Wyoming News Now reports.
This relocation project, part of a larger wayfinding and exhibit enhancement initiative, aims to place the statues in a more accessible and prominent location within the Capitol complex.
Nathan Doerr, Capitol Curator, likened the extension to “Wyoming’s own Statuary Hall,” emphasizing that the new placement under skylights offers visitors an optimal view while underscoring the historical significance of both figures. Chief Washakie’s statue, now positioned to face north, is oriented toward the land, reflecting his legacy and connection to Wyoming’s landscapes and indigenous heritage. The statue of Esther Hobart Morris, facing the historic Supreme Court, symbolizes her role in advancing women’s rights, as Wyoming was the first state to grant women suffrage and integrate it into its constitution.
Additionally, the Capitol’s West Wing features Suffrage Hall on its first floor, further highlighting Morris’s contributions to Wyoming’s and the nation’s suffrage movements. According to Doerr, “her critical story in the history of Wyoming is emphasized even more” by the statue’s new location and the addition of Suffrage Hall.
Both statues, which also represent Wyoming in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C., have been long-standing elements in the Wyoming Capitol, with Chief Washakie’s statue installed in 2001 and Esther Hobart Morris’s in 1963. The updated placements create prominent starting points for students and visitors who begin tours in the Capitol Extension, showcasing these figures as central to Wyoming’s rich heritage and cultural identity.
