Should the Centerpiece in our California State Capitol be relocated?

As many of you know, the statue of John Sutter was removed from the lawn in front of Sutter Hospital in Sacramento on June 15th.

The statue had been there since the late 1980s.

When the SHS Board learned of the removal, myself and Director Gregg Lukenbill went to the site. Director Steve Beck and I responded to media inquiries about the removal of the statue.

We have been, and will be, in contact with Sutter Health to determine where the statue will be stored. We want to make sure this important historical artifact is saved and has a suitable home.

As you know, last year we had two meetings, facilitated by Steve Beck, exploring all aspects of Sutter’s life. We are concerned that “facts" being presented to the public are incendiary and designed to agitate emotions.

In that atmosphere, it is difficult to hold a dispassionate discussion about the issue. I believe there is an opportunity for SHS to take a leading role in shaping the discussion going forward.

If you have ideas on how we can do this, please reply to admin [at] sachistoricalsociety.org.

It is clear other statues and memorials face challenges. There is talk of removing the Christopher Columbus statue in the capitol, the Junipero Serra statue in Capitol Park, and other monuments, including some in the Old City Cemetery.

Sacramento was one of the most important cities in the west. Sutter’s Fort, the Gold Rush, the transcontinental railroad, and the development of electrical power are all important stories that were critical in the development of America. Those stories deserve to be remembered and told.