Historical Footnote FRANKFORT, KY (WEKU) - Kentucky may be the only state in the Union whose statues in the U-S Capitol's Statuary Hall were donated by a private citizen.

In 1925, Isaac Bernheim of Louisville visited the Hall and discovered Kentucky was not represented. He petitioned the governor to do something about it, but was told the state had greater needs. So, Bernheim put up his own money. A commission appointed by the General Assembly then held a contest for school children, who decided surgeon Ephraim McDowell and statesman Henry Clay should be honored.

"March 3rd, 1929, the Ephraim McDowell statue and the Henry Clay statue were unveiled in the U-S Capitol in Statuary Hall."

That's David Buchta, of state Historic Properties, who says the bronze statues sculpted by Charles Neihaus went to Washington. The original plaster molds are in the rotunda of the State Capitol. Interestingly, because of his advanced age, Bernheim was unable to attend the unveiling ceremony in Washington. © Copyright 2009, WEKU