Statue of Thomas Starr King

The Statue of Thomas Starr King is a life-size bronze figure in Capitol Park depicting a formally dressed minister in a contemplative pose. It sits near a Civil War memorial grove within the larger park grounds near the state capitol building.

Sculptor Haig Patigian created the bronze work in 1931, and it was displayed in Washington's National Statuary Hall for decades. The state brought it back to Sacramento in 2009 when lawmakers decided to replace it in the capital with a different memorial.

The statue commemorates a minister whose sermons about union and social values influenced how people in California thought about their place in the nation. His messages shaped religious and civic conversations during a time of great division.

The statue is located along the eastern pathways of Capitol Park and is easy to reach on foot from the Capitol building. The monument is best viewed during daytime when the park paths are clearly visible and the area is well lit.

The statue was not originally created for Sacramento but was sent to Washington as California's representative in the National Statuary Hall. Its unexpected return to the state became a story about shifting priorities in how nations remember their historical figures.

Location: Sacramento

Creator: Haig Patigian

GPS coordinates: 38.57650,-121.49150

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:47