CHICAGO (WLS) -- The city removed the lion statues from the Michigan Avenue entrance of the Art Institute of Chicago Tuesday morning for regular cleaning and maintenance.
A crane loaded the bronze statues onto a flatbed truck, en route to the city's conservation partner, where they will receive a steam cleaning and a protective wax coating.
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Built in 1893, the "great protectors" require expert care in order to preserve their appearance.
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The reinstallation date of the lion statues has not been announced at this time, but they're expected to be back in about a month.
Edward Kemeys designed the sculptures.