ST. PAUL — Atop a 50-foot column, a bronze statue linking Minnesotans to the Civil War stands tarnished.

Pollutants have taken their toll on the more-than-a-century-old Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in Summit Park overlooking downtown St. Paul, marring what was once a pristine metal monument.

“It is stable, but there is a lot of corrosion from 110 years of exposure,” said Colleen Sheehy, executive director of Public Art Saint Paul.

Now, help is on the way.

The Minnesota Historical Society awarded $60,000 earlier this month to renovate the memorial. Public Art Saint Paul, the group who will be working on the project, says the fixes will help revive the tale of Josias King, who is said to be the first Minnesotan who enlisted in the Civil War.

Though Minnesotans drive by the statue every day, many don’t know much about its history, Sheehy said. The project will include an educational assistant on site during the fixes in order to answer any questions about the memorial, Sheehy said. Dedicated in 1903, the statue is attributed to John Karl Daniels, a prominent Minnesota sculptor. It is a cast bronze image of King atop of 50-foot pedestal of Vermont granite. It stands just below the Cathedral of St. Paul.