Renewed Effort To Bring Wallace Portraits Back To Capitol Rotunda

by WAKA Action 8 News

State Auditor Jim Zeigler is calling again for the portraits of Governors George and Lurleen Wallace to be returned to the capitol rotunda.

They were moved and taken off the visitor tour route a couple of months ago. 

The portraits were moved to make room for Governor Robert Bentley’s new portrait. But Zeigler says there’s plenty of room, and he wants all of the state’s history displayed together. 

It’s a part of history that not everyone is proud of. George Wallace stood against the fight for civil rights.

But State Auditor Jim Zeigler says it should still be displayed where everyone can see. 

“We don’t need young whipersnappers revising Alabama history and heritage. Our history is what it is,” said Zeigler.

He tried to get the portraits moved back once already, but was met with resistance from an employee at the historical commission.

Now that he has been fired himself for something different, Zeigler says it’s time to try again. 

“Since the official whoe removed the Wallace portraits from the capitol rotunda has himself been removed from office, we decided to file a second request to put the portraits back. We filed that today and hope for a response and a meeting next week,” said Zeigler.

Some people in Montgomery agree Alabama should keep the portraits in plain view so we don’t forget where we’ve come from.

“Well I think putting it back is a good idea but I don’t think it’s a good idea to hide it, that part of the history of Montgomery Alabama. It’s good for the people to know what happened here,” said Juan Lopez.

Some may ask why the state auditor is leading this charge. It’s partially because those portraits are his responsibility.

“I have jurisdiction over state property worth 500 dollars or more. We’re going to get the portraits put back in their historical place,” said Zeigler. 

We reached out to the alabama historical commission for comment, but our calls were not returned. 

The portraits are still in the capitol. They were moved to a hallway on the first floor off of the tour route