A testament to the ages, Lorado Taft’s sculpture continues to “op e Weathering the

Story and Photos By Rachel Wolfe ) . d l

owden State Park in Ore - iconic Indian sculpture, often referred to i and the history it H d e

gon, , is home to one as or The Eternal Indian, has T holds. Taft not y s e t

of the greatest feats of artis - become more than a landmark; it has r only was a sculp - u o c

tic and industrial achieve - o

become a testament to the will of man t tor but also an o h P ment. This year, the Indian and the majesty of nature. ( adamant educator statue celebrates its 100th year of over - The Indian statue stands as a symbol of the beauty in lLooking the Rock River Valley. Standing for the spirit of the Native Americans the natural world. proud at nearly 50 feet tall atop a 250- and the appreciation of natural beauty. His passion to Lorado Taft foot bluff, the statue has endured it all. Created by Lorado Taft, a prominent share his apprecia - Withstanding wind, drought, earth - sculptor during the late 1800s and early tion for daily life and his artistic visions quakes, blizzards and downpours, the 1900s, the statue was intended as a with the world began in his downtown monument to the beauty of the land studio, in ’s Fine Art Building. 2 / Outdoor Illinois July 2011 n the eyes to the awe .” Wind

valley. After completing the Public Standing 50 feet tall atop Library project, Taft wanted to build a 250-foot bluff, the statue is something to honor the indomitable visible from several vantage points spirit of Native Americans. He wanted to share the story of the land, and the along the Rock River. legacy of the American Indian. Taft sketched a form that would represent Construction of the statue itself the code of honor the natives lived by, didn’t start until 1910. The needed to protect and cherish the land with the technology was scarce in those days. belief anything of real value can never Two crews of 14 men each were hired be taken. The Indian statue stands to work at $5 an hour and for 12-hour today, not just as a visual representation shifts. Facing brutal seasonal changes, of all Native Americans, but as the fig - the men persevered, pumping 700 urehead Taft hoped would symbolize gallons of water an hour. The wood- the ideals of times past and future. heated water was sent up the 220-foot Ground breaking took place in 1909 bluff where the concrete was mixed at and Taft’s vision was to construct the the base of the statue. statue out of concrete, making him the )

first to use the material as an artistic . d l i medium. Construction of the concrete H d e T y

sculpture was funded by generous con - s e t r u

tributions from J.P. Beck, Wallace Heck - o c o t o

Lorado Taft’s Eternal Indian man and land donated by Frank Low - h P den. In 1907, Taft formed a partnership ( )

statue has been an iconic . e d

d with John Prasuhn, whose concrete o

Rock River landmark since H e l

e working experience and engineering d

its July 1, 1911 dedication. A y

b expertise would soon be put to the o t o

h test. An earthquake and windstorm P ( ruined the beginnings of the statue. Not During the warmer months, Taft and to be discouraged, Taft and Prasuhn his fellow artists would travel to Ore - decided to reinforce the piece-mold gon to find reprieve from the city heat technique with steel beams. In addition and inspiration for their work. The to the steel and concrete, a stronger, open spaces of the river valley relieved 18-foot base was poured, extending 12 the artists of the stress of city life and feet below ground and 6 feet above. became a haven for creativity. The Eagle’s Nest was then created, and Taft Employing new technologies to made Oregon his second home. construct the statue, Lorado Taft Having made a name for himself as a sculptor in Chicago, Taft was deter - became the first artist to use mined to leave his mark on the river concrete as a sculpture medium. July 2011 Outdoor Illinois / 3 The statue was recreation for residents and travelers, entered into the National Register and provides outdoor education through Northern Illinois University. of Historic Places on No v. 5, 2009. One of the original 49-inch models of the statue still stands in the Oregon Since its dedication, the statue has Public Library today. Currently, the continued to weather the winds of State of Illinois is heading the collec - time, standing watch over technical tion of funds for repair and mainte - revolutions and social change. The Indi - nance to carry the statue into its sec - an statue has endured several earth - ond century. quakes, the most recent having reached The Indian statue was erected over a a magnitude of 4.0 on Feb. 10, 2010. decade of planning, engineering and Minimal restoration and repairs have hard work. Remains of the worksite are been needed over the years. The most scarce today, but it’s easy to see the notable repairs coincided with the 75th effort and passion that went into creat - anniversary of the statue when recog - ing the first concrete sculpture and sec - nizable chalk-like, white trails and ond-largest figure of its kind. As a spalling caused by the calcification of guardian of the land with a strong his - minerals were repaired with an epoxy torical significance, the commitment of compound, filling the cracks and the surrounding community reaches to spaces in drilled holes. At that time, a all people across the nation. canvas rubber mold was taken of the Taft’s mission help others “open chest and arms for foreseeable future eyes to the awe” successfully joined restoration efforts. The statue’s people together to share in the glory of improved appearance was unveiled to his artistic visions. Standing together ) . d

l the public in 1991. with the land, history and Lorado Taft, i H d

e The statue continues to inspire oth - we have a monument to withstand the T y s e

t ers, including being entered in the winds of time and stand as a true testa - r u o c

o National Register of Historic Places on ment not only to the Native Americans, t o h P ( Nov. 5, 2009, and inclusion in the but also to the strength of the human March 2010 mural for the Lincoln spirit. Completion of the statue required Highway Coalition project at 103 W. more than 65,000 gallons of water, 412 Washington, Oregon, Illinois. The fig - barrels of raw Portland cement, two ure proudly stands as a figurehead to Rachel Wolfe is a freelance writer resid - tons of twisted steel rebar, 20 tons of the Lowden State Park and Lorado Taft ing in Oregon, Illinois. red granite screenings (adding consider - Field Campus, which offer seasonal able weight to the concrete) and 200 yards of burlap. The finished Indian stat - ue and base weigh in around 100 tons. Dedication of the monumental stat - ue took place on July 1, 1911. On a scorching hot day, speakers, poets and artists gathered at The Eagles Nest Colony to honor the statue as a symbol of remembrance to the natives that walked the land before us. Taft hoped the unveiling would help heal old wounds and “conceive a future rich in hope for acceptance of our neighbors.”

In addition to drawing visitors interested in the statue, Lowden State Park is a popular picnic and camping destination.

4 / Outdoor Illinois July 2011