Ruth Bader Ginsburg joins carvings on New York State Capitol staircase

The New York State Capitol’s Great Western Staircase has a new face on it.

Gov. Kathy Hochul was joined by members of the Ginsburg family on Monday to unveil a carving memorializing former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

RBG – as she was affectionately known – was the second woman ever appointed to the Supreme Court when she took the bench in 1993. She served until her death in 2020.

Ginsburg’s fighting spirit is one that provides a model for women everywhere, Hochul said.

“She is one of New York’s most revered daughters. She also made history with her Brooklyn toughness and the tenacity that was required to break through, not just glass ceilings. It seemed like she had to break through walls in order to achieve what she did,” the governor said.

There were no women included in the original 1898 staircase, said Hochul. Now, after adding a seventh female face, she said work is not done to continue honoring legendary ladies from New York.