FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – Peg Leg Pete will keep its post outside the Amelia Island Museum of History in Fernandina Beach after a bug infestation was discovered.
The aging statue cannot be brought inside the former Nassau County jail site turned museum because the infestation could harm other artifacts.
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In early September, an engineering inspection of the statue found the aging “Fernandina Pirate” unsafe for public interaction.
It once stood in front of the Amelia Island Welcome Center, but recent conversations called for the statue’s replacement following its rapid deterioration.
It’s still unclear what’s in store for the statue’s future, but museum director Phyllis Davis said they are waiting on the city to tell them what’s next for Pete’s journey.
Vice Mayor Ayscue and Mayor James Antun want the statue repaired and returned. Antun also suggested a fundraiser to cover costs, while Commissioners Joyce M. Tuten and Genece Minshew were open to commissioning a new statue, renaming it, and possibly relocating it closer to the water.