Florida will soon have a new statue in the U.S. Capitol. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has approved a measure to replace a sculpture of confederate general Edmund Kirby Smith.
The governor’s signature begins a process to replace the statue of confederate general Edmund Kirby Smith in statuary hall. It’s housed in the U.S. Capitol and it honors notable men and women from all fifty states. Under the new provisions, the great Floridians committee will determine who should replace smith, and the Florida council on arts will choose a sculptor. Each state gets two entries. Besides Smith, Florida submitted john Gorrie—a pioneer in refrigeration. Gorrie’s statue will remain in the Capitol.
