#106: Cloud Dongs [George Gray Barnard's Pennsylvania State Capitol sculpture groups]

The Ancient and Esoteric Order of the Jackalope

George Gray Barnard's sculptures have been installed in front of the Pennsylvania State Capitol since 1911... but the story of their creation is a long and tortured one, featuring the strangest act of self-censorship you'll ever see.

https://order-of-the-jackalope.com/cloud-dongs/

Key sources for this episode include Dan Williams' "George Grey Barnard"; Ingrid Steffensen's "Toward an Iconography of a State Capitol: The Art and Architecture of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg"; Ruth Hoover Seitz's Pennsylvania's Capitol; Samuel W. Pennypacker's The Desecration and Profanation of the Pennsylvania Capitol; the catalog of Pennsylvania State University's George Grey Barnard: Centenary Exhibition; the proceedings of the Dedication Ceremonies of the Barnard Statues, State Capitol Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Oct 4, 1911; and contemporary newspaper reports.

This week we're promoting our friends The Curiosity of!? -- where a father and son discuss things they are curious about, from science and history to monsters and games. They look at the quirky and unusual from around the world as well as seeking out local history, events, and characters. https://curiosityofpod.com/

• Email: [e-mail]
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/orderjackalope.bsky.social
• Discord: https://discord.gg/Mbap3UQyCB
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orderjackalope/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orderjackalope/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@orderjackalope
• Tumblr: https://orderjackalope.tumblr.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/orderjackalope
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@orderjackalope

I'll be presenting at the Intelligent Speech conference on February 8, 2025! Register now at https://intelligentspeechonline.com/ and get 10% off with the promo code JACKALOPE!

The Ancient and Esoteric Order of the Jackalope is a secret society devoted to sharing strange stories and amazing facts. No topic is off limits -- if it's interesting or entertaining, we'll do an episode about it!