"To the Stars Through Difficulties": A Chronicle

"To the Stars Through Difficulties": A Chronicle. . , The sculpture of "Ad Astra" was installed in October 2002. After 113 years of failed efforts to place a sculpture atop the Capitol dome. Not until the unwavering support of Governor Bill Graves, who believed that the Capitol building of the state of Kansas should be completed in time for the building's centennial anniversary in 2003, was the success of the project attained., The Kansas Capitol is a classic Greco-Roman Renaissance style building, designed originally to be surmounted with a sculpture. Just over two decades after the cornerstone was laid on 17 October 1866, the state sponsored the first competition for a dome sculpture. Some of the nation's most outstanding sculptors competed. But the 1889 competition was the first of many to end without result., In 1901, Winslow Brothers of Chicago created a model of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, who conformed to the style of the building and paid heed to democracy's classical Roman and Greek origins. Agriculture was deemed by the ancients to be the agent by which humankind had developed law and morality; thus, Ceres came to be regarded as a goddess of civilization., By the mid-1970s, a lengthy renovation of the Capitol was begun. The decision was also made to complete the decorations originally planned. Murals and sculptures for the niches in the second floor rotunda were competed and by 1979, state leaders were recommending public donations and grants to fund a sculpture atop the dome. , Enabling legislation was finally passed and signed into law on 10 May 1984. It invited suggestions from Kansas school children, and all other interested persons. As to what the subject should be. In December 1988, after two previous efforts had failed to produce an appropriate sculpture, Dr. Richard Bergen of Salina won the competition with his representation of a Kansa warrior, which he titled "Ad Astra." His sculpture was the unanimous choice, from among three finalists, chosen from a field of outstanding entries., During his campaign for governor in 1992, Bill Graves promised Dr. Bergen "to do whatever he could" to assure the completion of the "Ad Astra" project. A man of his word, he presided over both the installation and dedication of "Ad Astra" in the final months of his second consecutive term., The people of Kansas are indebted to him for his vision, perseverance, and dedication to our state, exemplified by his commitment to seeing "Ad Astra" placed on the dome. By his example, we see how all Kansans can make our state's motto, "To the stars through difficulties," a motto for life.