The American Civil War Center could decide in August whether a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis should join one of Abraham Lincoln at Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond.

Museum officials met privately yesterday with the Sons of Confederate Veterans to discuss their offer to donate the life-size bronze statue of Davis for the National Historic Landmark site.

The statue of Lincoln was placed there in 2003 over protests from the national Southern-heritage group. It's offering the sculpture of the Confederate leader to mark this year as the bicentennial of his birth.

Christy S. Coleman, president of the American Civil War Center, said the Davis statue would be considered by the museum's collections committee next month and by the museum's board on Aug. 13.

A final decision on whether to accept it would rest with NewMarket Corp. as owner of the property. The American Civil War Center controls the property through an agreement with NewMarket.

Coleman said she hadn't begun to shape her recommendation on the matter and said considerations over any addition to the museum's collections would weigh the item's historical importance and whether it supports the goals of the institution.

"They had to digest our presentation. I think it was well-received," said Brag Bowling, a Richmond resident and a board member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. "I think she sees we're good guys trying to promote education."

He stressed that the statue of Davis is not being offered to anger supporters of the Lincoln statue.

The statue of Davis is being prepared by Lexington sculptor Gary Casteel, and it depicts the Confederate leader standing with his son Joe and with Jim Limber, who was a mixed-race orphan taken in by the Davis family.

The sculpture is expected to be completed by this fall at a cost of more than $100,000, Bowling said.

"I think it'll be a crown jewel if it's accepted," he said.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.