Sen. Kim Ward, a Pennsylvania State Senator, shared a series of posts on March 11, 2026, highlighting notable contributions to art and history in Pennsylvania.
In her first post, Sen. Ward wrote: “Violet Oakley was the 1st female artist to receive a large commission to adorn a Capitol building in the U.S. She worked on murals throughout the Capitol for 16 years and was awarded the Gold Medal of Honor from the PA Academy of Fine Arts in 1905. #WomensHistoryMonth https://t.co/wFRAe2Kq6G” (March 11, 2026).
Later that day, she posted about an initiative marking the United States’ semiquincentennial: “In honor of the 250th Anniversary of the US, @America250_PA invited PA artists to paint fiberglass replicas of the Liberty Bell. There is at least one in every PA county!” (March 11, 2026).
Sen. Ward followed up with information about one particular bell replica: “The Westmoreland County bell, titled: There’s MORE in Westmoreland, is located at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, and was painted by Mandy Sirofchuck.  Which ones have you seen so far? https://t.co/GD0XcSkCRw” (March 11, 2026).
Violet Oakley was an influential American artist known for her murals in the Pennsylvania State Capitol; her work remains recognized as a significant achievement for women artists in public art during her era.
The America250PA initiative seeks to commemorate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary by engaging local artists across Pennsylvania to create Liberty Bell replicas as public artworks placed throughout all counties in the state.
