Winged Victory

, originally uploaded by Foxicat.

Flat Bobby was glad he had his feet on the ground, that statue looked way too far off the ground!

Winged Victory has been on the top of the building since the building's completion and is a wind vane nearly 17 feet tall. It has been free moving except for a time in the 1950's when a group of legislators had her tethered because they were tired of seeing her back side.

During the restoration Winged Victory was removed from the top of the building for repairs. Several coats of enamel paint had dulled the crispness of her image, but the workmen also found bullet hole damage. They’re not sure exactly how the bullets damaged Winged Victory, but it was surmised that some hooligans might have come to town and may have even wagered on their skill as marksmen. With the repair work completed, Winged Victory was replaced on the top of the dome. She is once again a free moving wind vane with a special coating that eliminates the need for painting.

Underneath Winged Victory is a copper dome that was added during the restoration of the building. The copper industry in Arizona donated 15 tons of copper to cover the roof and dome. The dome has been treated to keep it from tarnishing. The mining of copper and other metals has been very important to the development of the Territory and the State. There is enough copper on the roof and dome to mint 4,800,000 pennies.