[6] In April 1884,[6] the committee commissioned New York City-based sculptor Robert Cushing to design a statue of Wadley.

[4][5] For the head of the statue, Cushing modeled it after a marble bust that he had previously completed of the subject using photographs and a face mask.

[4] In 2015, a family reunion of about 3 dozen descendants of Wadley's met at the statue and had a group photograph taken in front of it.

[5] The monument consists of a bronze statue of Wadley atop a pedestal made of granite from Quincy, Massachusetts.

[7] An inscription on the left side of the front of the statue's bronze base bears the name of the sculptor ("Robert Cushing,/Sculptor,/New York, 1885.

[7] The pedestal bears the following inscriptions:[7] William M. Wadley/Erected A.D. 1885/By the Employees of the/Rail Road and Steamship Companies/of which he was The Head/To Commemorate/The Life of A Good Man and the Ability of A/Great Railway Manager/Who Rose From Their Ranks To The Presidency.His Wisdom and Foresight/United Under The Control of the Central RR & BKG.