State legislature OKs replacement of Marcus Whitman statue with one of Billy Frank, Jr.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington Legislature has approved a measure that would start the process to replace Washington’s Marcus Whitman statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection with one of the late Billy Frank, Jr.

The Senate vote was a bipartisan 44-5.

Frank was a Nisqually tribal member who championed treaty rights and protecting the environment.

A street in Bellingham’s Sehome neighborhood bears his name.

Marcus Whitman was a physician and missionary, who was part of the first large wagon train across the Oregon Trail, noted for treating several fur trappers during an outbreak of cholera.

The measure to replace his statue now heads to Governor Jay Inslee for his signature.

The National Statuary Hall Collection features two statues from each state.