Old State House/ Shutterstock image via Tupungato
On Sunday, September 14, the stately lion and unicorn statues perched atop the Old State House were hoisted down in what’s thought of as the first time the two relics have been touched since the 1970s.
Not only is it thought that there was a time capsule stashed in the head of the lion back in 1901, but the two statues have watched over the the oldest continuously used public building in Boston, since before the formation of the United States of America.
There was a period, however, when the busts were noticeably absent at the corner of what is now State and Congress Streets. Upon achieving American independence, the statues were torn down as a show of defiance of the British crown.
The Bostonian Society was formed in 1881, and at this point wood replicas were installed. But, as wood tends to do, it eventually rotted. Steel versions were eventually put in their steads and have been in use ever since.
Reinvigorating the lion and unicorn, a combined symbol of the unification of England and Scotland under James I in 1603, with a fresh coat of gold paint is part of a sizable restoration effort to the masonry and woodwork on the Old State House’s western facade.
They’ll be sent to Woburn to be restored in an art studio by Bob Shure, at which point the contents of the time capsule will be examined and a new one, with contemporary memorabilia – and you can suggest items by emailing The Bostonian Society or tweeting your thoughts using the hashtag #LionAndUnicorn.
Heather Leet, director for development at The Bostonian Society, told BostInno in an email that figures arrived at Skylight Studios on Monday morning. Naturally, both structures will be examined, but the lion will require special attention to determine whether or not a time capsule is truly there and how to best go about obtaining it.
“Most likely he will recommend opening one of the seams on the statue,” Leet said, but it’s unclear at this point exactly how he’ll proceed.