PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – It’s been nearly four years since Rhode Islanders voted to remove “Providence Plantations” from the state’s legal name.

Although the phrase was quickly removed from legislative documents, it remained present throughout the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

That is, until now.

According to Laura Hart, spokeswoman for the Rhode Island Department of Administration, the State House is currently undergoing modernization.

Hart said the state had experts assess where throughout the building the words appeared and which ones could be removed without damaging the facade.

So far, the elevator’s brass doors have been replaced with the state’s original seal, which Hart estimated cost the state more than $200,000. The state has also already placed the phrase on seals, stickers, signs and plaques throughout the building.

Hart said the state is currently in the process of having a new carpet made for the State Room, which is expected to cost about $300,000, and a marble ring has been made to cover the inscription on the seal in the center of the rotunda.

The granite near the entrance to the lower level is being turned over so a new sealant can be installed, Hart added.

The state’s legal name – State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations – was first established in 1790 when it declared statehood.

Rhode Islanders have voted to remove “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s official name following the murder of George Floyd, which sparked a nationwide reckoning with racial injustice. Although the word “plantations” itself did not specifically refer to the place where slaves worked, those calling for its removal argued that it was offensive because it evoked such images.

It is unclear exactly how long the process to remove the phrase from the State House will take.

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