Sarah Winnemucca statue bill introduced

Nevada's congressional delegation Tuesday introduced the bill which will place a bronze statue of Sarah Winnemucca in the U.S. Capitol National Statuary Hall.

The life-size statue has already been completed in clay by artist Benjamin Victor. He did his final detail work on the artwork in the gallery of the Nevada State Museum behind the Capitol.

Victor has since taken her off to the foundry where the statue will be turned into a bronze that will join Nevada's other statue - former U.S. Senator Pat McCarran. Each state is entitled to two pieces of artwork in the National Statuary Hall.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he visited the museum while Victor was finishing the statue.

"It was a beautiful sight," he said, adding that Winnemucca made "unique contributions to our heritage and history."

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., described her as "a tireless advocate for Native Americans, a dedicated teacher and a noted author and speaker."

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said Winnemucca was "a towering historical figure as an advocate for justice, as an educator and as a literary master."

And Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., said she is a historic Nevadan and only the eighth woman to be represented in the National Statuary Hall.

The legislation, authored by all of the members of Nevada's congressional delegation, will direct the placement of the Sarah Winnemucca Statue in the U.S. Capitol.

A second bronze will also be prepared from the clay sculpture which first lady Dema Guinn said will be placed in the Nevada Capitol.

Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at nevadaappeal@sbcglobal.net or 687-8750.