Christa McAuliffe Statue to be Unveiled at New Hampshire State House

Photo byState of NH

Concord, NH – The Christa McAuliffe State House Memorial Commission is excited to announce that the unveiling of the Christa McAuliffe statue will take place on Monday, September 2, 2024, at 10 AM. Members of the public are invited to attend this historic event, honoring the life and legacy of New Hampshire’s beloved teacher and astronaut.

Governor Chris Sununu expressed the significance of the moment, stating, “To see a hero like Christa McAuliffe memorialized in this way will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of students each time they visit the New Hampshire State House. The unveiling of this statue – the first woman to be memorialized on State House grounds – will be a historic moment for the State of New Hampshire. We hope the whole community will come out for this event!”

The Christa McAuliffe State House Memorial Commission was established by Executive Order 2023-02, signed by Governor Sununu on February 14, 2023. The commission was tasked with overseeing the creation of a fitting tribute to McAuliffe, who tragically lost her life in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 while serving as the first private citizen astronaut and the first teacher in space.

Renowned sculptor Benjamin Victor was selected to design the statue. Victor, at the age of 26, became the youngest artist to have a sculpture placed in the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. In 2024, he made history again as the only living artist to have four sculptures on display in Statuary Hall.

The unveiling of the Christa McAuliffe statue will mark a historic milestone for New Hampshire and serve as a permanent reminder of McAuliffe's courage, passion for education, and dedication to exploration.

The public is encouraged to join this special occasion at the State House, located at 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH.

Information for this article was obtained by a State of NH release.