Preparations Underway to Move Iconic Statue to The Maryland Historical Society this weekend 

*Plus FREE admission to Furloughed Government Workers

BALTIMORE, Oct. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lady Baltimore, the eight-foot iconic symbol of Baltimore, will be moved this weekend from her perch atop The Battle Monument in downtown Baltimore. After years of restoration efforts, the original marble statue will move to an environmentally friendly location for its preservation at The Maryland Historical Society (MdHS). A concrete reproduction will be moved into her place. MdHS is working closely with Baltimore City's Commission for Historical & Architectural Preservation (CHAP) and The Mayor's Office on this effort. While bystanders are prohibited from congregating near the small and dangerous lift location, members of the media are invited to capture this historic move - please contact Laura Rodini at lrodini@mdhs.org or 410-685-3750 ext 322 for the specific weekend timeframe.

Scaffolding has been constructed around the Battle Monument (located at Calvert and E Fayette Streets, Baltimore) to facilitate the move. CHAP and the City have sponsored several major Battle Monument restorations, including one most recently in 2011 by Steven Tatti and his conservation team at S.A.T. Inc. They casted molds of the monument's sculpted works, which will be put into place after the original Lady Baltimore statue is moved. This will offer future generations the joy of seeing the Monument as it has appeared in the City for almost 200 years.

Lady Baltimore weighs 2,750 lbs and will placed into a cage and carefully lowered from the Battle Monument. At the same time, the reproduction will go up in her place.

The original Lady Baltimore will be transported by The George Young Company to The Maryland Historical Society, located at 201 W. Monument Street. Once there, she will be installed atop a 500 lb steel-reinforced platform in the 2nd floor Gallery of the Beard Pavilion. Passersby on Park Ave. will be able to view the 8' statue through the floor to ceiling windows. At night, she will be illuminated. For complete details, see: http://www.mdhs.org/rescuing-lady-baltimore

FREE Museum Admission to Furloughed Government Workers

The Maryland Historical Society is sensitive to the recent government shutdown, especially how it has affected families throughout the Maryland, DC and Virginia regions. So it has decided to offer free general admission to furloughed federal government employees and their families.

MdHS will continue to offer free general admission until the furlough is lifted. Family members of those affected by the shutdown are also eligible for free admission.  Simply present your Federal ID at the front desk.

Hours/AdmissionMuseum hours are Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., General admission to the Maryland Historical Society is $9 for adults, $7 seniors, $6 for students and children ages 3-18 and free for children under 3. For more information, visit www.mdhs.org

And for more information, contact Marketing Director Laura Rodini at 410-685-3750 ext 322 or lrodini@mdhs.org.

SOURCE The Maryland Historical Society

RELATED LINKShttp://www.mdhs.org