The familiar bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln that sits atop I-80’s highest point will be getting a makeover.
The statue will be taken down and transported to Eagle Bronze Foundry in Lander to be restored. It will be sandblasted with glass beads, highlighted, and resealed. Monte Paddleford, the owner at Eagle Bronze, says over time the elements take their toll on the statue’s luster. Once the statue is sandblasted, though, Paddleford says he thinks people will notice the difference.
"It will have more of a goldish look to it. It’ll look brighter, more brilliant than it has the last number of years. We get used to driving by it several times and we just get used to looking at it, but I think people will be surprised at how much nicer it will look once the process is completed here," says Paddleford.
It has been 23 years since the statute was last cleaned, and it is expected to be returned to its home between Laramie and Cheyenne in about two weeks.