McKinley Statue

This page will provide updated information regarding the statue of William McKinley, in addition to the latest press releases.

Overview

On Wednesday, February 21, 2018, Arcata City Council voted 4-1 in favor of relocating the McKinley statue from the center of the Arcata Plaza.

The McKinley statue is identified as a historic feature of the Plaza in the City’s guiding document called the General Plan, and this designation requires the City to complete an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prior to taking action to relocate the statue. The intent of environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is to describe the potential impacts of removing McKinley to City officials and the public prior to removing the statue.

Following the Council's vote, a petition to prohibit the removal of the President William McKinley statue and its base was circulated to the Arcata community for signatures. The petition needed 954 signatures of Arcata registered voters to qualify as a ballot measure for the general election taking place on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. The petition received 1,426 signatures of registered Arcata voters, qualifying for the ballot.

On Tuesday, November 6, 2018, registered Arcata voters had the opportunity to vote in favor of, or against the McKinley measure, known as Measure M. The majority of Arcata voters (67.81%) voted Measure M down. As such, the City Council’s vote from Wednesday, February 21 still stands, and City staff will initiate the review of relocating the McKinley statue from the center of Arcata’s Plaza.

On Wednesday, February 20, City Council certified the Final Environmental Impact Report and instructed City staff to work with the City of Canton, Ohio to relocate the statue. The Council instructed City staff to remove the statue quickly and safely.

The statue of President William McKinley was removed from Arcata’s Plaza on Thursday, February 28. City staff continued with the statue removal process when a break in the rain occurred with a long enough window for it to be transported safely and at a time when Plaza businesses, parking and traffic would be least impacted.

The City is currently working with the City of Canton, Ohio to relocate the statue.

For archive information on ballot Measure M, click here.

To review historical documents and news articles regarding Humboldt County and National history as it relates to the McKinley Statue, George Zehndner and Fort Humboldt, click here.

Environmental Review Archive

On Wednesday, February 20, upon recommendation of the Planning Commission, City Council certified the Final EIR, adopted the Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations and voted to relocate the McKinley statue to City of Canton, Ohio.

View the Final EIR (without Appendices)

The Final EIR, with its appendices, is too large to be upload to this webpage. It can be viewed in its entirety in the Planning Commission's meeting agenda packet dated Tuesday, February 12, 2019.

Click here to access the City's meeting agenda archive. Once you find meetings listed for February 2019, please click on the Planning Commission Agenda Packet dated Tuesday, February 12 to review the Final EIR with its appendices.

View the Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations

For more information on the draft Environmental Review process, public hearings, public comment instructions or to view the Draft EIR, click here.

Press Releases