Goddess of Liberty

Location: Berks County Services Center Atrium, 633 Court Street

Artist: James Rush (wood carving), Philadelphia, PA; Thomas U. Walter (designer), Philadelphia, PA; W.H. Mullins Co. (copper statue), Salem, OH

Date: commissioned in 1897; restored in 1988

Material: copper

Description: The copper statue was modeled after a wood carving by James Rush from a design by Thomas Walter. The wood statue ornamented the Berks County Courthouse from 1840 to 1897 when the copper statue by Mullins was installed. Following demolition of the old Courthouse in 1931, the statue was in private hands until Samuel V. Pellegrino, D.D.S. donated it to the Redevelopment Authority in May 1985. Following restoration, the statue resided at the Historical Society of Berks County and City Council Chambers until it was moved to the County Services Center as part of the County's 250th Anniversary.