Alabama Women's Tribute Statue Commission

Honoring Two
Alabama Heroines

What is the Alabama Women’s Tribute Statue Commission, and what are its goals?

The Alabama Women’s Tribute Statue Commission was created in 2019 to commission and place statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller on the grounds of the Alabama State Capitol. Both Ms. Parks and Ms. Keller are exemplary figures of Alabama’s history of determination and passion. Rosa Parks’ bravery in the face of the Montgomery Bus Boycott has inspired not only Alabamians, but also individuals around the world, to fight for justice in the face of inequality and discrimination.

Similarly, Helen Keller was undeterred by her inability to see and hear. Ms. Keller not only learned to communicate, but she also wrote twelve books and fought for women’s rights to vote. Her unique story of overcoming massive social hurdles has served as an inspiration for people with disabilities and has offered a lesson for all in the capabilities of the human spirit.

The legacies of these two women will forever be an integral part of the story of the state of Alabama. The Commission plans to unveil both sculptures on February 4, 2023, Rosa Parks’ 110th birthday.

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Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 1, 1955. When the bus started to fill up with white passengers, the bus driver asked Parks to move. She refused. Her resistance set in motion the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which launched nationwide efforts to end racial segregation. She later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Given her many achievements, it is only fitting that Rosa Parks be honored for generations to come in her home state. The statue of Rosa Parks will be placed in an area of prominence in the front of the Capitol, so that all who enter the Capitol building will be reminded of her bravery and encouraged by her solidarity.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880. Several months prior to her second birthday, a serious illness left her deaf and blind. She had no formal education until age seven, when her parents hired Anne Sullivan, who became Helen Keller’s lifelong teacher and mentor. As a result of her education, Helen Keller became a humanitarian, educator, and writer, advocating for people with disabilities and for women’s suffrage. The statue of Helen Keller to be designed in a manner that will allow the statue to be readily accessible to, and touchable by, people with disabilities. It is our hope that this will far exceed the traditional expectations of ADA accessibility and that our selected applicants will take full advantage of this opportunity to create a unique piece that can truly be enjoyed by the disability community both in Alabama and across the country.

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The Commission

The Commission consists of six members, chaired by State Rep. Laura Hall of Huntsville, Alabama, and has been refining plans for the statues since its formation in 2019. The Commission is representative of leaders in the arts, civil rights, and disability communities in Alabama and will ultimately select the artists for the statues, in consultation with legislators, artists, and representatives from the disability community.

The Commission consists of six members, chaired by State Rep. Laura Hall of Huntsville, Alabama, and has been refining plans for the statues since its formation in 2019. The Commission is representative of leaders in the arts, civil rights, and disability communities in Alabama and will ultimately select the artists for the statues, in consultation with legislators, artists, and representatives from the disability community.

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Calling all Artists

The AWTSC has issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to artists, including teams of artists, for the submission of their proposals for the design and fabrication of statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller to be placed on the grounds of the Alabama State Capitol. Responses may be for the Rosa Parks statue, the Helen Keller statue, or for both.

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