Wyoming could soon get a new state monument that honors America’s heritage.
The “Monument to America” proposed in House Bill 106 would honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
HB 106 establishes the creation of a task force that could help launch the project at roughly the same time as the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 2026.
The House Travel, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee passed the bill on a 8-1 vote Thursday with Rep. Bob Wharff, R-Evanston, the only member voting against it.
As originally written, the bill would have directed the task force to plan a monument as large as Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, which was originally created to celebrate America’s 150th anniversary. That stipulation was removed on Thursday, which will allow the state to plan a more modest-sized monument if it wants.
“Maybe it’s not a statue on a mountain, maybe it’s a sculpture garden, maybe somebody has a different idea,” the bill sponsor state Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper, said. “I think it would be neat to just get us together, a group of people.”
Since unveiling his bill, Harshman said he’s had many sculptures and artists reach out to him about the potential project such as erecting 250, 12-foot sculptures.
What Would They Do?
The task force would develop preliminary specifications, plans and features for the monument to America in recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The monument would feature historical American figures, including Native American leaders.
Rep. Liz Storer, D-Jackson, spoke against the requirement that the monument be similar in size to Mount Rushmore, saying it makes the monument too restrictive. Her amendment removing it from the bill passed unanimously.
The task force would determine a list of locations for the monument, which would be intended to be located on school trust lands in order to benefit the coffers of the Common School Account within the Permanent Land Fund.
Harshman said he would want his task force to be no larger than 20 members, which was codified in an amendment on Thursday. It would come with a $40,000 annual cost to run.
Pros And Cons
Fremont County resident Joseph Martinez spoke against the bill, saying it’s written too vaguely.
The task force would complete its work by the end of 2027.
The bill makes no estimate for what construction of the actual monument would cost. Martinez suggested that a monument be spearheaded by the private sector.
“If this is a project from the state, I think the state would have to pick up a larger portion of the bill,” he said.
Rep. Marilyn Connolly, R-Buffalo, asked about this point and speculated that public grants could support a private endeavor.
Harshman said one of the jobs of the task force would be to see what kind of money is available for funding.
Mount Rushmore was started in 1927, but work didn’t complete on it until 1939.
Wharff pointed out that by the time the project would start to be implemented, the 250th anniversary will likely have already occurred. He also said it wouldn’t be necessary to establish a formal task force to accomplish the project’s goals.
Rep. Julie Jarvis, R-Casper, countered that the $40,000 cost isn’t significant when considering the potential benefit it could have to local schools. Jarvis pointed out that many in the Legislature are currently pushing for changes that would remove some of the stable sources of school funding in Wyoming.
Rep. Andrew Byron, R-Jackson agreed.
“We are in an uncharted territory right now where the seas are rough and slopes are steep and we don't know what's going to happen,” Byron said.
Diane Shober, director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism, spoke in support of the bill and said the Office of Tourism would like to play an active role on the task force.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
