Statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller Set for Unveiling at Alabama Capitol

In Montgomery, Alabama, a significant event is set to take place this Friday: the unveiling of statues honoring two iconic figures, Rosa Parks and Helen Keller, on the Alabama Capitol grounds. Both women are renowned for their extraordinary contributions to justice and equality worldwide.

These statues pay tribute to two of Alabama’s most illustrious natives—Rosa Parks, a civil rights icon who challenged racial segregation, and Helen Keller, a trailblazer for the disabled community. Notably, these will be the first statues of women to grace the Capitol’s lawn. Their presence will offer a more comprehensive narrative of Alabama’s history, which has long been symbolized by monuments celebrating the Confederacy, established at this very site back in 1861.

Inside the Capitol, a bust honors former Governor Lurleen Wallace, Alabama’s first female governor who passed away while in office in 1968. However, until now, there have been no outdoor monuments dedicated to influential women on the Capitol grounds.

Representative Laura Hall, who played a key role in passing the 2019 legislation that made these monuments possible, emphasized the importance of showcasing a complete historical narrative to Capitol visitors, one that highlights the significant roles women have played.

“Helen Keller and Rosa Parks represent figures that resonate universally, transcending race and political affiliation,” Hall remarked. “Their contributions have left an indelible mark on our history.”

Known as the mother of the modern civil rights movement, Parks was arrested on Dec. 1, 1955 when she refused to leave her bus seat for a white passenger. Her action ignited the yearlong boycott of the segregated city bus system by Black passengers and helped usher in the civil rights movement.

Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She became deaf and blind after a serious illness shortly before her second birthday. With the help of tutor Anne Sullivan, Keller learned to communicate through sign language and Braille. Keller went on to become a well-known writer and lecturer. She championed the rights of workers, the poor, women, and people with disabilities around the world.

The statue of Parks sits by the Alabama Capitol steps facing Dexter Avenue, the street where Parks boarded the bus and made history in 1955. The statue honoring the civil rights icon sits across from a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

The statue of Keller sits facing the Alabama Statehouse.

The statue presentation on Friday has been more than six years in the making.

Alabama lawmakers in 2019 approved Hall’s legislation to place the monuments to Parks and Keller on the grounds of the state Capitol. The Alabama Women’s Tribute Statue Commission has been quietly at work, commissioning the statues and finalizing the displays.