In this artwork, how is the Protection and restoration discussed?
Since its creation, the sculpture has weathered badly.In April 1962 the head of the center standing pioneer, which broke in 1961, was replaced with one carved by Fred Mitchem and a silicone coating was applied to the work.In August 1975 the head on the figure nearest the river had to be reattached.On the 50th anniversary of the memorial's dedication, flagpoles, with the flags of the six states formed from the Northwest Territory, and the national flag, lighting and commemorative plaques were installed.In readiness for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, there have been moves to restore the memorial and the city of Marietta has commissioned a study in how best to do so. In 2020 the memorial was covered by a temporary canopy, to give some protection from the elements.In August 2021 Marietta City Council approved a $7 million proposal by the Start Westward Memorial Society to replicate the memorial in bronze—in accordance with Borglum's original intention—and to move the original stone sculpture to an indoor Start Westward National Memorial Visitors Center, with a target completion date of Marietta's 250th anniversary in 2038.
Marietta founding of the United States bronze national flag Fred Mitchem Northwest Territory