| Pioneers of 1889 | |
|---|---|
| 1889 | |
 The sculpture in 2019 | |
 | |
| Artist | Leonard McMurry |
| Year | 1959 |
| Medium | Bronze sculpture |
| Location | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| 35°28′10″N 97°30′58″W / 35.469347°N 97.516206°W | |
Pioneers of 1889, or simply 1889, is an outdoor bronze sculpture by artist Leonard McMurry and landscape architect Thomas Roberts, installed in Oklahoma City, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma.[1][2]
Description and history
The artwork was copyrighted on February 25, 1957, completed in 1959, and dedicated on April 22, 1960. The sculpture depicts two settlers, including a young boy on a horse and a man. It measures approximately 9 ft. 5 in. x 5 ft. 9 in. x 10 ft. 6 in. and rests on a polished granite base measuring approximately 7 ft. 3 in. x 6 ft. 9 in. x 10 ft. 6 in.[2]
A plaque on the west side of the base reads: "STRONG MEN AND WOMEN CAME UPON A RAW LAND / WITH VISION... / THEY SPANNED RIVERS AND PRAIRIES AND MOUNTAINS/WITH DETERMINATION... / THEY CREATED SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-FARMS-FACTORIES / THEY LIFTED GREAT BUILDINGS TO THE SKIES / THEY DRILLED DEEP WELLS INTO OIL RICH EARTH / WITH THANKFULNESS TO THEIR GOD... / THEY ARE STILL PIONEERING-STILL ACHIEVING / AND STILL EXPLORING FUTURE FRONTIERS / PASSERBY-LOOK ABOUT AND ASK THIS QUESTION / WHERE ELSE WITHIN A SINGLE LIFE SPAN / HAS MAN BUILT SO MIGHTLY / M.G.T."[2] Another plaque on the base reads: "THIS STATUE COMMEMORATES THE PIONEERS OF 1889 / PRESENTED TO THE '89ERS AND THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA / BY / MR. AND MRS. B.D. EDDIE / APRIL 22, 1960 / LEONARD MCMURRY / SCULPTOR."[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Refurbished sculpture resumes its place in downtown Oklahoma City". Oklahoman.com. 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
- ^ a b c d "1889, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
External links
- Pioneers of 1889 at cultureNOW
- 1889 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at Waymarking
This page was last edited on 2 July 2023, at 03:38