Maine State Capitol

Originally completed in 1832 and designed by renowned architect Charles Bulfinch, the Maine State Capitol stands as one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating statehouses. During a major expansion from 1909–1910, the original cupola was replaced with the current copper-clad dome, which rises 185 feet above Augusta and is crowned by William Clark Noble’s monumental *Lady of Wisdom*. The 15-foot-tall copper sculpture, holding a torch and shield, has become one of Maine’s most recognizable civic landmarks. After decades of exposure to harsh New England weather, the statue and its gilded finish had deteriorated significantly, diminishing its visual prominence and leaving the copper vulnerable to further deterioration.

In 2015, EverGreene Architectural Arts was entrusted with the conservation and regilding of the *Lady of Wisdom*, restoring the iconic figure to its original early twentieth-century appearance. Conservators determined that the remaining gilded surface—dating largely from a 1970s campaign—had severely failed, with much of the visible finish consisting of deteriorated gold-colored paint rather than true gold leaf. The team carefully removed the damaged coatings down to bare copper, prepared the metal with an exterior-grade protective sealant, and applied a specially tinted primer to create an ideal substrate for gilding. The sculpture was then meticulously regilded using custom 23.75-karat gold leaf, restoring its brilliant finish while providing long-term protection against the elements. The project ensured that Maine’s iconic *Lady of Wisdom* once again serves as a striking symbol atop the State Capitol, preserving both the building’s historic character and its civic identity.