The Eternal Indian
(listed as Indian Statue)
Lorado Taft's The Eternal Indian stares solemnly across the Rock River.
LocationLowden State Park
Nearest cityOregon, Illinois
Built1908-1911
ArchitectLorado Taft (artist)
Architectural styleConcrete monolith
Visitation400,000 (2009)
NRHP reference No.09000871
Added to NRHPNovember 5, 2009

The Eternal Indian, sometimes called the Black Hawk Statue, is a 48-foot (14.6 m) sculpture by Lorado Taft located in Lowden State Park, near the city of Oregon, Illinois. Dedicated in 1911, the statue is perched over the Rock River on a 77-foot (23.5 m) bluff overlooking the city.

The statue, according to the artist, represents the unconquerable spirit of Native Americans, using motifs from several tribal cultures. While not a portrait statue, it was in part inspired by the life of Black Hawk (1767–1838), a leader and warrior of the Sauk. In 2009, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

The statue was created by sculptor Lorado Taft, beginning in 1908. Taft at first created smaller studies of what would become the statue. The statue itself was dedicated in 1911. Taft noted at the dedication that the statue seemed to have grown out of the ground. It stands on the ground that was once home to the Eagle's Nest Art Colony, which Taft founded in 1898.[1] Though not publicized at the time of construction, original funds were exhausted before the completion of the work and future Illinois Governor Frank Lowden had stepped in to ensure that the statue was completed and erected.[2]

The statue was planned by Taft and several of his students and associates at the Art Colony, which is now part of the Taft Campus of Northern Illinois University and is adjacent to Lowden State Park. An original model of the statue is on permanent display at Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, Illinois.[3] Another model is located at the Oregon Public Library in Oregon, Illinois.[1]

Description

Black Hawk Statue, Lowden State Park

The statue stands on a bluff approximately 140 feet (43 m) feet above the Rock River. The 48-foot (15 m) tall statue, weighing 536,770 pounds (243,470 kg), is said to be the second largest monolithic concrete statue in the world (after Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro).[4][5] It wears a long blanket and stares across the river with folded arms.

With the help of John G. Prasuhn, the young sculptor of the Chicago Art Institute, Lorado Taft created a figure almost 50 feet tall, including a six-foot base. Reinforced with iron rods, the hollow statue is eight inches to three feet thick. The interior is accessible through a door at the base, although visitors are currently not allowed inside the statue. The outer surface composed of cement, pink granite chips and screenings is three inches thick.[6]

Interpretation

At the dedication of the statue on July 1, 1911, Taft said that in the evenings he and members of the Eagle's Nest Art Colony often walked along the bluff and would stop at the statue's location to enjoy the view. Contemplation became habitual, arms folded, restful and reverent. Black Hawk came from that contemplative mood and attitude. The 48-foot (15 m) tall monolith, towering over the river, suggests an unconquered spirit through its composition blending Fox, Sauk, Sioux and Mohawk cultures.[4] Taft said the statue was inspired by the Sauk leader Black Hawk, although it is not a likeness of the chief.[7]

National Register listing

On November 5, 2009, the Black Hawk Statue was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[8] The listing may allow the statue access to federal funding for repairs on cracks that naturally appear in its concrete surface.[8]

Restoration

Most recently, the statue restoration was completed and unwrapped in January 2020, costing just under $250,000 to restore.

The statue was in need of restoration as some of the concrete had worn away. Plans had been made by Friends of the Black Hawk Statue Committee to begin restoration work in Spring 2014.[9][10] Although delayed, resumed physical integrity tests and restoration restarted in Summer 2015.[11][12] Efforts to restore the statue had been halted due to a dispute between the project manager and the conservator working on the statue.[13]

From June 2016 until June 1, 2018, the Black Hawk statue was wrapped with black tarp and ropes while it languished without further restoration. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, owner of the statue, had no legislated funding for the project and could not proceed. In October 2017, concerned citizens organized as the Black Hawk Restoration committee.[14] Several on the committee were on the original Friends of Black Hawk Group. It was their intention to invite IDNR to speak to the community of Oregon, Illinois, but they declined.[15] Eventually, a meeting was held between the committee and the IDNR staff. It was agreed on March 28, 2018, that IDNR would remove the wrapping and the Black Hawk Restoration Committee would begin fundraising.[16] On June 1, 2018, the wrapping was removed from the statue.[17] On May 10, 2018, the Legislature of the State of Illinois passed a capital budget which funded a grant of $350,000 to IDNR.[18] It was estimated that further repairs could cost up to $660,000. and that the grant to IDNR required matching funds from the public sector.[19] The Black Hawk Restoration Committee agreed to take on the task. As of November 2018, nearly $600,000 had been raised, with plans for completing the restoration by August 2019. The statue was again covered with a protective wrapping.[20] As of December 2019 the restoration was nearly complete.[21]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form Archived March 27, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, (PDF), Oregon Public Library, HAARGIS Database, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
  2. ↑ "Changes Archived 2006-09-01 at the Wayback Machine," NIU Historical Buildings: Lorado Taft Field Campus Historical Significance, Northern Illinois University. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
  3. ↑ Staff writer(s). "Descendants of Loredo Taft". Rootsweb. Ancestry.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Oregon Sculpture Trail". City of Oregon, Illinois. Archived from the original on January 9, 2004. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  5. ↑ McKee, Susan (November 10, 2015). "From Black Hawk to Lorado Taft". The Travelers Way. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  6. ↑ IL Dept. of Resources Website on Lowden State Park Archived 2007-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Staff. "Red Man's Statue Unveiled", (ProQuest),Chicago Daily Tribune, July 2, 1911. Retrieved 4 November 2007
  8. 1 2 Wells, Vinde. "Black Hawk statue earns historic status Archived July 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine", Ogle County News, November 25, 2009.
  9. ↑ Ward, Clifford; Gregory, Ted (October 15, 2013). "Couple hopes to save iconic 'Eternal Indian' statue". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  10. ↑ Stanley, Greg (January 26, 2013). "Summer 2014 repair expected for Black Hawk statue in Oregon". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Eternal Indian statue: Restoration delayed due to damage". chicagotribune.com. June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Restoration of 104-year-old Eternal Indian statue resumes". chicagotribune.com. July 20, 2015. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  13. ↑ Tori Clark (June 8, 2016). "Dispute halts Blackhawk Statue restorations". wrex.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  14. ↑ Ted Gregory, Saving landmark Eternal Indian statue may hinge on '1 or 2 charitable angels' as supporters try to restart restoration, Chic Trib, April 9, 2018,
  15. ↑ Minutes, Black Hawk Restoration Committee, Dec 14, 2017,
  16. ↑ Minutes of Meeting with IDNR. Lorado Taft Field Campus, March 28, 2018.
  17. ↑ Tyler, Susan. It’s Happening! Black Hawk Statue Is Unwrapped! WTVO, Rockford, Il.
  18. ↑ Demmer, Tom House Resolution Number 830. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?GA=99&DocTypeID=HR&DocNum=830&GAID=14&SessionID=91&LegID=110354
  19. ↑ Demmer, Tom. Report to Black Hawk Committee. Minutes, July 2, 2018.
  20. ↑ Gregory, Ted (November 24, 2018). "Past Efforts to Restore Illinois' Crumbling Eternal Indian Statue Have Fallen Apart. Will This Time Be Different?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  21. ↑ Buckley, Madeline (December 23, 2019). "'Darth Vader on the Bluff' No Longer: Black Hawk Statue Restoration Nearly Complete After Years of Setbacks". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
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