Visit the Christa McAuliffe Statue at the New Hampshire State House

On September 2, 2024, The Christa McAuliffe State House Memorial Commission unveiled a Christa McAuliffe statue at the New Hampshire State House in Concord. The dedication took place on what would have been Christa’s 76th birthday, with support from the Governor’s Office and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.

Photo Courtesy of McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

Renowned artist, Benjamin Victor, was selected by the committee to design the memorial. At the age of 26, Victor is the youngest artist to ever have a sculpture placed in the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. 

“To see a hero like Christa McAuliffe memorialized in this way will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of students each time they visit the New Hampshire State House,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “The unveiling of this statue – the first woman to be memorialized on State House grounds – will be a historic moment for the State of New Hampshire. We hope the whole community will come out for this event!”

The Christa McAuliffe State House Memorial Commission was established on February 14, 2023, when Governor Sununu signed Executive Order 2023-02. 

Born in Boston, Sharon Christa Corrigan was the eldest of five children of Grace and Edward Corrigan.  She grew up in Framingham, married her high school sweetheart Steve McAuliffe, and began her career teaching high school students in Maryland and then New Hampshire.  

In 1985, Christa was selected from more than 11,000 applicants as the first teacher to participate in a space mission.  On January 28, 1986, the shuttle Challenger Christa was on exploded shortly after lift-off, and tragically the entire crew perished.  

There are two educational initiatives created in Christa’s honor.  The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) science museum located in Concord, New Hampshire, United States, next door to the NHTI campus.  Framingham State College, where McAuliffe received her teaching degree, created the Christa McAuliffe Center in her honor, dedicated to teacher excellence.