Portraits of Governor George, Lurleen Wallace Removed from Capitol Rotunda
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Portraits of governors George and Lurleen Wallace have been removed from the rotunda in the state capitol and relocated to a hallway on the first floor.
The historic commission says the pictures were moved in part to create space but not everyone believes that.
You’ll no longer find governors George and Lurleen Wallace in the capitol rotunda. The Alabama Historical Commission says “The portraits were relocated to the first floor as part of a new tradition of displaying the sitting Governor’s portrait in sequential order beside the three most recent Governors.” But State Auditor Jim Zeigler says he believes the move is politically motivated.
“History is history and what’s happened is sometimes these historically correct people don’t like a certain part of history.” Zeigler says. “This is the strangest coincidence that on the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights March, Bloody Sunday, the release of the Selma Movie, Oprah Winfrey coming to Alabama…”
Political Analyst Steve Flowers says he believes the the historical commission has made a PR move ahead of the 50th anniversary events.
“They don’t want the national media and the people who are coming throughout the nation to walk into the rotunda and see George Wallace’s picture.”
A resolution was passed in 1983 requesting the Wallace portraits be displayed in the rotunda on the first floor. But the historical commission says that resolution is not legally binding. Zeigler predicts legislative action on the matter will be taken when the session starts in March. Though Flowers says if that happens, the issue will become a national lightning rod.
“If the legislature starts passing resolutions saying we want George Wallace’s picture in the rotunda, gosh that’s another black eye.”
The Alabama Historical Commission sent us this statement about the move: “The relocation of Governor George and Lurleen Wallace’s portraits should not be viewed as a commentary on the legacy of either Governor. The Alabama Historical Commission has the utmost respect for the Wallace family.”
