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Tubman & Douglass Statues Approved for MD State House

historical photos

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A Maryland board has approved a contract to put bronze statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass in the historic Maryland State House.

The Board of Public Works voted 3-0 for the $575,000 contract Wednesday for the statues of the Maryland-born abolitionists. Both Tubman and Douglass were born on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

The board is comprised of Gov. Larry Hogan, Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

The contract with The Christmas Company, of Sterling, Virginia, calls for completing the work within 390 days. Franchot voted for the contract, though he criticized the fact that the company and sculptor are not from Maryland.

In a letter, Del. Julian Ivey criticized the contract for not having any minority business participation.

The statues will stand in the Old House of Delegates Chamber.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.