Maggie L. Walker. Virginia Randolph. Booker T. Washington. Barbara Johns. Pocahontas. Chief Powhatan. Edgar Allan Poe.

Those are some of the names suggested for statues to replace Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in the U.S. Capitol to represent Virginia.

Beginning Friday, Oct. 16, the Commission for Historical Statues in the U.S. Capitol is opening a formal 30-day public comment period to collect recommendations of prominent or renowned Virginians to be commemorated in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington.

As outlined by federal officials, eligible subjects must be a deceased citizen of the United States, historically renowned or distinguished for civic or military service, and the statue must represent a single individual.

The commission also outlined that the subject should have an association with significant historic events, significant ideals, writing and/ or intellectual thought, and be an exemplar of valor, patriotism and bravery. The subject also should have either a primary historic significance tied directly to Virginia or should have spent the majority of their life in the state and not be in conflict with current values.

The commission, which comes under the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, also plans to have public and private schoolchildren contribute to the discussion for an alternative to the Lee statue.

Names have been coming in since August, according to officials.

The process and timeline for a replacement was outlined at a virtual meeting of the commission on Oct. 8.

A public hearing will be set for November after the public comment period ends on Nov. 13, officials said. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources then will narrow the submissions to five finalists and present them to the commission in December for a final selection that is to be approved by the General Assembly. An artist is expected to be selected in March or April.

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture on Arthur Ashe Boulevard already has agreed to accept the Lee statue when it is removed from the Capitol.

The cost to create, transport and unveil a replacement statue is estimated at $498,500.

Names can be submitted via email to USCapitol-Commission@dhr.virginia.gov or by mailing suggestions to the Department of Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Ave., Richmond 23221.