The task of relocating Marcus Whitman’s statue in the Washington state Capitol is becoming a chore.

Whitman was a doctor and missionary in the 1800s. His role in the displacement of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest has been scrutinized in recent decades.

It’s been challenging to find a place inside the Capitol where the 11-foot, 9,144-pound bronze statue won’t damage the historic structure. Moving it outside risks exposure to the elements, vandals or both. Either approach would be an expensive undertaking.

Leaving the towering Whitman where it stands in the north portico appears increasingly off the table, too.

Some state officials envision the foyer as the future home for a statue of Billy Frank Jr. , the Nisqually Indian Tribe leader who was an indomitable force in the

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