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Statue of Liberty Replica's - BSA

 
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Submitted by emarsh5009 on Sat, 02/14/2015 - 9:25am.

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Last updated 08/08/2016

Raw file: BSA_Statue_of_Liberty.gpx (83.85 KB)

This file contains 165 locations* in 39 states of the Boy Scout Statue of Liberty replica’s placed in various communities across the country in the early 1950’s.

This was a project to help promote the BSA’s 40th anniversary theme of “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty” and to “impress upon the general public the citizenship training values of the Boy Scouts and to reawaken Americans to their heritage of freedom.”

Jack P. Whitaker, Kansas City businessman and commissioner of the local Boy Scout council is credited for originating the project.

As the fortieth anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America approached, Whitaker, a Kansas City businessman and commissioner for the local Boy Scout council, originated the project after seeing a dedication of a Statue of Liberty replica made of chicken wire and concrete in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Whitaker paid $3,500 to have an original mold made of miniature Lady Liberty. Scout troops were then able to purchase the replicas for $300 to $350 and then presented them to various cities and towns across the country. Each replica is said to be made of more than 40 sheets of cooper about the thickness of a nickel. Generally the local community provided the base.

The dedication plaque on these replica’s reads:
WITH THE FAITH AND COURAGE OF
THEIR FOREFATHERS WHO MADE
POSSIBLE THE FREEDOM OF THESE
UNITED STATES.

THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

DEDICATE THIS COPY OF THE
STATUE OF LIBERTY AS A PLEDGE
OF EVERLASTING FIDELITY AND
LOYALTY.

40TH ANNIVERSARY CRUSADE TO
STRENGTHEN THE ARM OF LIBERTY
1950

Weather and vandalism has taken a toll on a number of these replicas. Spikes were broken off from the crown and the torch-carrying arm often was damaged. While some cities faithfully restored the statues, others simply junked them. Others have been relocated to locations inside buildings.

* Burns, Oregon statue confirmed in Washington Park - GPS coordinates are to the park

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Change History

  • emarsh5009 - Aug 8, 2016
    Clinton, IA exact location added

  • emarsh5009 - Aug 8, 2016
    Rome location removed at request of local council

  • emarsh5009 - Mar 21, 2015
    Added 2 locations in Washington state

  • charlesd45 - Mar 21, 2015
    WAV