Our goal is to relight this iconic sculpture in 2026, helping to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the centennial of artist Stephen Antonakos’s birth.

With the approval and assistance of the Antonakos family and estate, the restoration will convert to energy-efficient LED lighting the 111-foot main neon section of the sculpture, facing south to Center City, as well as its shorter side, facing East.

With the help of Director of Preservation Alliance Paul Steinke, the CityLights Committee engaged the internationally known Lighting Design Collaborative (LDC). In consultation with the Antonakos estate—and using the artist’s original drawings—LDC recommended the precise LED technology needed to replicate the sculpture’s dimensions and colors, reduce it’s maintenance significantly, and prolong its relit life.

It’s time to bring this acclaimed sculpture back to life.