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There was a dramatic ouster at the state Capitol today, but it had nothing to do with politics.

Construction workers, using a large crane, removed the chariot driver from the building’s Quadriga statue. The temporary removal is needed to repair corrosion on the surface of the chariot, according to the Department of Administration.

The figure will also be repaired and gilded. The repairs are expected to take about three months.

The Quadriga is gold-leafed copper and steel. The statue’s official title is "Progress of the State." It was sculpted by Daniel Chester French (sculptor of the  giant 

 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.) and Edward Potter and first placed on the Capitol in 1906.

Here’s what the Minnesota Historical Society says about the symbolism of the statue:

The entire group of figures was removed for restoration work in 1994.

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Tim Pugmire

Author

There was a dramatic ouster at the State Capitol today, but it had nothing to do with politics.

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