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Thursday, Sept. 12, marked the official debut of the new “Lady in the Garden” in Harding Square.

In June of this year, the original iconic stone statue, which had survived hurricanes and vandalism for over a decade, met its final demise after being struck by a drunk driver. But thanks to Dee Congleton, vice president of the Washington Area Historic Foundation, and members of the Washington Garden Club, an identical replacement was found.

“It is sort of a legacy when you stop and think about it, as the original had been here so long,” said Congleton. “Two people have already come by this morning and said, ‘That is the same lady,’ and ‘it is as it should be once again.’”