Washington Honors Billy Frank Jr. | Spokane News

Washington is honoring its Native American heritage by replacing a 70-year-old statue of Marcus Whitman with one of Billy Frank Jr., a legendary tribal leader and fishing rights activist, at the state Capitol — and soon, his likeness will also grace the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall. Frank’s legacy, cemented by his pivotal role in the Fish Wars and a landmark 1974 court victory, earned him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom. The $335,000-funded move required engineering precision to safely relocate Whitman’s 9,000-pound statue, while Frank’s statue avoids structural disruption. Meanwhile, Capitol restoration continues after last October’s break-in, with a $1 million rug repair still pending approval. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/2285e5bc2fe09879