Mother Joseph Statue
This statue honors Esther Pariseau (1823-1902), also known as Mother Joseph, who founded numerous schools and hospitals in the Pacific Northwest.
Facts
About the Mother Joseph Statue
The Mother Joseph statue was dedicated in 1980. It is located in the Legislative Building foyer, just inside the north entrance. This statue is a replica of the Mother Joseph statue in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. The Washington State Legislature selected Mother Joseph and Marcus Whitman to be represented in the National Statuary Hall. The replica Marcus Whitman statue is also located in the Legislative Building foyer, next to the front desk.
Mother Joseph is recognized as one of the first architects in Washington Territory. She is responsible for building Olympia’s first hospital. Throughout the late 1800s, Mother Joseph founded 11 hospitals, seven academies, five Indian schools, and two orphanages throughout present day Washington, northern Oregon, Idaho and Montana. She designed the buildings, supervised construction, and raised funds for those projects. Mother Joseph also started the Providence “ticket,” a pioneer form of medical insurance.
Felix de Weldon was an Austrian sculptor. Approximately 1,200 de Weldon sculptures are located in seven countries, including the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) in Arlington National Cemetery.
Inscription
Mother Joseph
A sister of Providence
1823-1902
She made monumental contributions to health care, education, and social works throughout the Northwest.
Felix de Weldon
Sculptor, 1980
