The Alabama State Capitol is set to honor two of the state’s most famous women, Rosa Parks and Helen Keller, with new statues. The unveiling will take place on October 24, 2025, in Montgomery, and the public is invited to attend the ceremony.
Rosa Parks is remembered as a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. On December 1, 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her bravery and lifelong activism for racial equality made her a national hero.
Helen Keller, born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, overcame blindness and deafness from a young age. She became an author, activist, and lecturer, inspiring people worldwide with her story of perseverance and advocacy for people with disabilities.
The statues are part of the Women’s Tribute State Commission, created by Alabama law in 2019. Rosa Parks’ statue will be placed near the Capitol’s main entrance, while Helen Keller’s will face the back entrance. Both statues will include plaques with information about their lives and achievements.
This historic event is the first time women will be represented with statues on the Alabama State Capitol grounds. It celebrates their courage, determination, and lasting impact on the state and the nation.
The Path to Recognition
The story began in 2019, when Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 287 into law. This law created the Women’s Tribute Statue Commission, a group responsible for choosing women to honor, getting funds, and managing the design and placement of the statues.
The commission, led by Representative Laura Hall of Huntsville, included lawmakers, teachers, and community leaders. After discussion, they agreed on Rosa Parks and Helen Keller as the best women to represent Alabama’s history.
“Rosa Parks and Helen Keller both show courage, strength, and determination,” Hall said in July 2025. “Their work inspires people in Alabama and all over the world.”
Rosa Parks: Civil Rights Hero
Rosa Parks became famous on December 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery. Her arrest led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a year-long protest that helped end bus segregation and brought attention to civil rights issues.
She continued fighting for voting rights and equality for decades. Parks received many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal. In 2005, she made history again as the first woman and second African American to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
The new statue will stand near the Capitol’s front entrance, symbolizing her bravery and impact.
Helen Keller: Overcoming Silence and Darkness
Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, in 1880, Helen Keller became blind and deaf at 19 months. With the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she learned to communicate and went on to graduate from Radcliffe College in 1904, becoming the first deaf-blind person to earn a degree.
Keller wrote 14 books, spoke worldwide, and worked for disability rights, women’s suffrage, labor rights, and peace. Her statue is already in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C., and now she will have a permanent place at home in Alabama.
Her statue will be placed near the rear entrance of the Capitol, showing her commitment to helping people often left out of public life.
Sculptors and Design
The Rosa Parks statue is created by Julia Knight, a Georgia sculptor. The Helen Keller statue is designed by an Oregon artist who focuses on accessibility.
Plaques will include Braille, ASL symbols, and QR codes for digital resources. The concrete foundations were completed in summer 2025, and the site is ready for the October unveiling, according to project manager Chris Blankenship.
Meaning for Alabama
The Capitol has a long history, from Jefferson Davis’s inauguration in 1861 to the Selma-to-Montgomery March in 1965. Adding these statues shows a new chapter, celebrating justice, equality, and human rights.
“Statues tell the story of who we are,” said historian Richard Bailey. “Honoring Parks and Keller shows Alabama values courage and dignity.”
Celebration and Future
The unveiling on October 24 will include civil rights leaders, students, officials, and descendants of Parks and Keller. The event will have music, student essays, and a wreath-laying ceremony, and it will be livestreamed nationwide.
Lawmakers hope these statues are just the start. More monuments for women, Native Americans, and other underrepresented groups may come in the future.
“These statues will remind everyone of what it means to fight for justice, dream big, and persevere,” Rep. Hall said. “We want future generations to learn from their stories.”
Q&A: Rosa Parks and Helen Keller Statues at Alabama State Capitol
Q1: When will the statues be unveiled?
A: The statues will be unveiled on October 24, 2025, in Montgomery, Alabama.
Q2: Who are the statues of?
A: The statues honor Rosa Parks, a civil rights leader, and Helen Keller, an author and activist for people with disabilities.
Q3: Why were Rosa Parks and Helen Keller chosen?
A: They represent courage, resilience, and determination. Rosa Parks is famous for her role in the Civil Rights Movement, and Helen Keller overcame blindness and deafness to become a global advocate for equality.
Q4: Where will the statues be placed?
A: Rosa Parks’ statue will be near the front entrance of the Capitol. Helen Keller’s statue will be near the rear entrance.
Q5: Who made the statues?
A: The Rosa Parks statue is created by Julia Knight, a sculptor from Georgia. The Helen Keller statue is designed by an Oregon-based artist experienced in accessibility-focused works.
Q6: Will the statues be accessible to everyone?
A: Yes! Both statues will include Braille plaques, American Sign Language symbols, and QR codes linking to educational resources.
Q7: Why is this event important?
A: This is the first time women will be represented with statues on Alabama’s Capitol grounds. It honors their contributions and inspires future generations.
Q8: Who will attend the ceremony?
A: Civil rights leaders, disability rights advocates, government officials, students, and descendants of Parks and Keller are expected to attend.
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