Committee Announces Utah Valley University as the New Home for Philo T. Farnsworth Statue

The Martha Hughes Cannon Statue Oversight Committee announces Utah Valley University as the new home of the Philo T. Farnsworth statue currently located in Washington, D.C.

SALT LAKE CITY (March 6, 2020) After careful review and deliberation, the Martha Hughes Cannon Statue Oversight Committee has selected Utah Valley University (UVU) as the new home for the statue of Philo T. Farnsworth. The statue will be removed from National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. and transported back to the state prior to the installation of the statue of Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon later this year. 

The Martha Hughes Cannon Statue Oversight Committee was chartered and commissioned by the Utah Legislature (House Bill 444, 2018 General Session) to oversee the creation and placement of a statue of Dr. Cannon in National Statuary Hall and to find an appropriate home for the statue of Philo T. Farnsworth. Proposals were evaluated based on many factors including the applicant’s connection to Philo, their ability to maintain and care for the statue, the installation location, and the number of visitors the statue will receive at its new location.

President Astrid S. Tuminez said on the selection of UVU, “It is an honor to have the statue of Philo T. Farnsworth at Utah Valley University. He exhibited a spirit of curiosity, a passion for knowledge, and an insatiable desire to discover, explore, and make the world a better place through his inventions. His 160 patents contributed to life-changing and life-saving technology that we take for granted today. We hope his likeness will inspire our students and faculty to open their minds to new possibilities and follow their dreams.”

“Philo T. Farnsworth is an important part of the Utah story. It was important to us that we found a home for Philo that honored his place in our history and allowed visitors from all over the world to continue to visit the statue and learn about his pioneering legacy,” said Adam Gardiner, a member of the Oversight Committee. 

Duane Andersen, Program Coordinator, Digital Cinema Production, Utah Valley University who submitted Utah Valley University’s application, “Philo T. Farnsworth’s vision and technical genius go hand-in-hand with UVU’s Digital Media Department and Digital Cinema Production programs, so we’re thrilled that UVU was selected to be Philo’s new home. Each day our students develop new, creative approaches to the using the technology he originally invented, and he’ll serve as a great patron saint overlooking their progress.” 

Saeed Moaveni, Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, Utah Valley University commented, “When Professor Andersen approached us with the idea of bringing the bronze of Philo T. Farnsworth to Utah Valley University, I had no doubt this university would be an appropriate home for the famous work of art. Philo T. Farnsworth holds an honored place in Utah history, as does this institution. As a rapidly growing College of Engineering and Technology, we are striving to educate the next generation of innovators. We believe this statue honors the past and will encourage students to diligently work toward their future contributions to society.”

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