I was having breakfast with a friend at Bricktown's IHOP this morning and we saw a couple of big flatbed trucks roll by to the south ... big horses on top! I knew that (finally) the Land Run Monument was getting some new stuff, and, of course, I had my camera with me! So ... before you see it in the press (none were present ... you'd think they would be) here is what I saw this morning as the new sculptures were being unloaded and put in place (another covered wagon and a pair of new horses) ... cloudy day, unfortunately ... click the link for a 1024 x 768 view ... the location is just south of Outdoor World for those who are unaware and it's a must-see!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_1.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_1s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_2.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_2s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_3.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_3s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_4.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_4s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_5.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_5s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_6.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_6s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_7.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_7s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_8.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_8s.jpg


Downtown Okc's Skyline Snapshot describes this project:


The largest sculpture collection of its kind in the United States, commemorating the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889. The series of bronze sculptures—ultimately 46 pieces stretching more than 300 feet in length—are located on both banks of the canal running through the southern edge of Bricktown. The sculptures, by Oklahoma artist Paul Moore and cast in nearby
Norman, are 50 percent larger than life-size (for example, the sculpture of an average man is nearly nine feet tall), adding to the drama of the historic moment captured by the artwork. Estimated cost of the project is $6 million.
Paul Moore has done and is doing an outstanding job with this ... the sculptures are magnificent!

excellent find, doug dawg! thanks.

woo!!! What a scoop!

Wow .. we are the first to see pics here on OKCTalk... how cool is that? I can't wait to see the actual exhibit now.

Doug Dawg - u da man!

those look awesome!

Great job (again). Talk about right place at right time. This is definitely a must see for anyone who has not been. Also, really impressive for out of towners. The land run is usually very fascinating for someone who did not grow up with this concept.

Thanks for sharing the photos.



The land run is usually very fascinating for someone who did not grow up with this concept.

Yes it is. With not having grown up here and learning what little I have of it amazes me how the whole process took place with the flags and deeds etc. Would have been an amazing place to be at the time if you survived it. I have been to the exhibit and am in just utter awe at the detail of these pieces. The man on the workhorse with the blinders still on and he with bare feet is my favorite. I feel it really personifies the lengths people took to be a part of it.

Thanks Doug great pictures all have to make a run down there and get some shots.

I was down there this weekend and saw the new stuff. It really looks awesome, but I'm still dissapointed in how long its taking to get the project finished. I understand how much of a prject it is, I'm just impatient.

The workmanship is awesome folks. They really put everything into these sculptures. You really have to walk around the things on all sides to see each detail. They aren't just static blah features, they really stick out nicely. Even down to the kitchen table falling out the back of the wagon as they hit a bump!

If I recall correctly, the current Skyline Snapshot said that the project may take as long as 2011 to get completely done ... if not there, I read that somewhere. But, as you said, given the outstanding quality of these works of art, I'd rather the artist took the time he needs (given his other work, also) to do it "right," as he surely is doing, just as you said. That said, I, too, wish that it would all be done during the year of the Centennial, but that's not going to happen.

I think they are say 2012 now.

Thanks to your pictures Doug the family and I went down there on Saturday. We have been there quite a few times but this time will really stick out in our minds. The pieces were still in the process of being installed and we could see what kind of work this takes just to install. The footings were still exposed and we could tell just how massive these structures are and how large the footings have to be to support them. Also the reins and the yokes were not as yet hooked up to the horses in front of the buggy. It also looked like another piece should be installed soon because there were some flags that seem to mark out the position. Thanks again for the heads up.

Not 100% sure, but I think that's Paul Moore (the sculptor) in the cowboy hat.

Not 100% sure, but I think that's Paul Moore (the sculptor) in the cowboy hat.
Note: I already replied once, John, but somehow it didn't "stick" ... so ... to repeat myself:

Sharp eyes, John! On closer look at a cropped view of an original, I do believe that you are correct!

Click on link for larger view: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_9.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/centennial/landrunmonument_9_7_07_9s.jpg

That's the man...

Nice photos, Doug.

I have some fav places to eat, and stolling most of Bt is an enjoyable eve in itself, but wandering amongst the parts of this exhibit is a repeat stroll for me, has been since the first three pieces were placed farther east, in what is now that too large a patchof parking lot.

One of my greatest hopes is that the encroachment of noise from the parking slap to the east, and the new sits too low for my tastes I-40 route to the immediate south, doesn't completely ruin what used to be a very serene location when the canal was originally extended to the south.

The only bad thing is how close the new I-40 will be. You just have to look over your shoulder to see it off to the south. Hopefully some landscaping will hide it a little and keep some of the noise down. Since it's on the same eye level as the scuplture area as opposed to 40 feet in the air, it's going to be much louder...yuk.

Ok I made run down to brick town to get few shots of the status in place.

Here is the Cannon.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1179/1361323688_ffc3ac8747.jpg?v=0

The wagon

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1281/1361321184_873890b427.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/1361318656_2bd68bd6dc.jpg?v=0

I ran into an old couple who told me about a rabbet that they had also added so got a couple of shots of it before I left


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/1360434049_f661e98c06.jpg?v=0
Flickr: Photos from Iron Knight (http://www.flickr.com/photos/11624664@N08/)

The only bad thing is how close the new I-40 will be. You just have to look over your shoulder to see it off to the south. Hopefully some landscaping will hide it a little and keep some of the noise down. Since it's on the same eye level as the scuplture area as opposed to 40 feet in the air, it's going to be much louder...yuk.

I-40, being lower, will reduce the noise levels.

How will they prevent someone from running off with that rabbit? I'm sure it's heavy but it's small enough to take if someone wanted to.

I wonder, how do they secure it?

I was thinking the exact same thing Karried. I guess our criminal minds think alike......lol

lol .. the Bunny Bandits... it sure would look good in my garden lol.. j/k!

I was thinking it would look cute on my floor next to the City of Austin water cover thingy I stole.......LOL

Be careful, ladies, they probably have bunny wobber watchers inside one of the covered wagons!

Forget the rabbit thieves; we should worry those painted buffaloes showing up alongside these true works of art, or worse, someone decides to paint these sculptures.

The footings for these statues go several feet down in the ground. Someone would probably have to have a backhoe to get the rabbit.

.oO(anyone else hearing elmer Fudd singing git the wabbit, git the wabbit, git the waaaaaaab-bit)Oo.

lol you guys are killing me I need to make a note to have the local authority's to keep an eye on the rabbit!
The rabbit was way off by it self I never would have saw if the couple hadn't pointed it out for me.

Gordon's Service Experts
Published on 7/17/2008



View more >


Fri July 18, 2008

City land run monument taking shape

My Downtown OKC page
By Amy Rymer, The Oklahoman

Sculptor Paul Moore of Norman oversees the installation being done along the Bricktown Canal by workers from Deep in the Heart Art Foundry of Bastrop, Texas.

The life-and-a-half size sculpture was placed near two wagons. It arrived from New Mexico on Wednesday night.
http://static.newsok.biz/article/20080718/3271709/cty-sculptor_07-18-2008_2889SFE.jpg

Gordon's Service Experts
Published on 7/17/2008

View more >

Fri July 18, 2008

City land run monument taking shape

My Downtown OKC page
By Amy Rymer, The Oklahoman

Sculptor Paul Moore of Norman oversees the installation being done along the Bricktown Canal by workers from Deep in the Heart Art Foundry of Bastrop, Texas.

The life-and-a-half size sculpture was placed near two wagons. It arrived from New Mexico on Wednesday night.
http://static.newsok.biz/article/20080718/3271709/cty-sculptor_07-18-2008_2889SFE.jpg
Excellent! Thanks for the update, Metro!

Doug, do I smell a new blogpost coming on?

I was reading Doug's 2008 blog on the monument last night and really got excited about how this is going to look when the new I-40 opens. Coming from the east, one will see this on the north and the boathouses on the south. So I wanted to bump this thread and let it be known that 27 of 46 are completed and installed (could be a few more now, as it looks like the site was last updated last year), with an expected completion date of 2015, according to artist Paul Moore's website (http://www.crownartsinc.com/Monuments%20page1.html).

Anyone who hasn't already gone down there and taken a look at these things, go do it. These statues are awesome to see up close and personal. It's been a while since I saw them, but I was VERY impressed.

I was reading Doug's 2008 blog on the monument last night and really got excited about how this is going to look when the new I-40 opens. Coming from the east, one will see this on the north and the boathouses on the south. So I wanted to bump this thread and let it be known that 27 of 46 are completed and installed (could be a few more now, as it looks like the site was last updated last year), with an expected completion date of 2015, according to artist Paul Moore's website (http://www.crownartsinc.com/Monuments%20page1.html).

I find it kind of funny that in the map of statue locations the cannon is pointed at the main pack of people, thankfully in the physical layout the cannon points safely away.

I hope to see this completed some day. I don't count on it, but I do hope.

Yep, been wondering if it was still moving forward. I know it turned out to be a more monumental task than originally planned and things slowed a bit. I guess the funding is still there? There's not been much in the news about it since around the centennial celebration.

I haven't seen anything new in years now. I don't know why they haven't solicited donations from the public through the media. I'm sure a lot of people would contribute to the project to finish it....i would. Just get story out in the Jokelahoman and the local news and I'm sure we can get the cash flowing to who needs it.

The funding issue was several years ago; apparently someone has stepped up or the funding was dedicated at some governmental level because on the artist's website it shows to have added at least 2 pieces every year since 2001. Again there are 27 of 46 completed, at the Centennial there were just 17.

I believe the timing is just down to the artist and his capacity to crank these things out.

Sounds like they are on track to be finished in a few years and as pointed out, once the old I-40 is out of way, the appeal of that entire area will be greatly increased. It will also help to extend the OK River canal.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/landrun.jpg

I find it kind of funny that in the map of statue locations the cannon is pointed at the main pack of people, thankfully in the physical layout the cannon points safely away.

Have to remember the cannon was fired indicating the start of the run and would have been before the pack of people were in the way.

Is the number still to be 46? One of the first articles I read on it, there were supposed to have been 77 statues (one representing each county). That number has been cut significantly mainly due to cost. I still think as it sits right now, it is most impressive and something I would definitely make sure any visitors see.

I believe the timing is just down to the artist and his capacity to crank these things out.

Yes, that was one of the issues. (I know Paul but have not seen or talked to him in a few years.) I'm counting 22 on that 2009 map so perhaps they have installed 5 more in the last two years and that is as planned.

Have to remember the cannon was fired indicating the start of the run and would have been before the pack of people were in the way.

Depends if they are Sooners or Boomers though.

LOL. Well we can hope if they were Sooners, they had the intelligence to make sure they weren't in the line of fire...if not I guess they would be candidates for the Darwin award?

So are most of the remaining ones going to be smaller? If there have only been 5 in the last couple of years, it seems like he would have a LOT to catch up on for the remaining 17 or whatever. I can imagine he's probably getting burned out on the project by now since it's taken about a decade of his life already.

I'm trying really hard to remember he's an artist, not a factory....lol.

I searched for another thread. I could swear there was one, but not seeing it, and this one is incredibly old. But it's as good a place as any as the last point of discussion was how long it would take and that was 2011 and here we are in 2020 and I _think_ it's done now but only somewhat recently. Anyway, hadn't been over there for awhile and went by it Saturday on a bike ride and it sure _seems_ done. Took a couple pics.

15986

15987

https://www.news9.com/story/5f0a3acb97bdb40ba25f99e5/hundreds-protest-land-run-monument-in-downtown-okc


"Inclusion, right?” protest organizer Kendra Wilson Clements said. “We want to be included in the story. Because we are a part of the story. We were the originators of this land.”

You know...It's almost like the city/state thought of this very thing when they decided to build a $200 million Native American Cultural Center under a mile from the Landrun Monument. Someone should let these people know that there's a facility being built basically next door that will far exceed the Landrun Monument in visibility, quality, and national prominence....and in addition, the whole 100+ acre property is being given to a tribe and there are plans to build even more native american centric tributes and attractions. I find it difficult to believe that they don't know that already which makes this protest over inclusion feel pretty disingenuous. Maybe i'm being overly cynical in thinking that but it seems like people will protest any monument for the sake of doing it if the monument shows a part of history they don't like. Jim Crow era confederate monuments built to intimidate...sure, protest away. But protesting a monument commemorating the extremely unique opening of the UNASSIGNED lands to settlement which was the catalyst for statehood over lack of inclusion of Native American history when an AWESOME Native American shrine is being built nearby? Give me a freaking break. People have lost their darn minds.

https://www.news9.com/story/5f0a3acb97bdb40ba25f99e5/hundreds-protest-land-run-monument-in-downtown-okc



You know...It's almost like the city/state thought of this very thing when they decided to build a $200 million Native American Cultural Center under a mile from the Landrun Monument. Someone should let these people know that there's a facility being built basically next door that will far exceed the Landrun Monument in visibility, quality, and national prominence....and in addition, the whole 100+ acre property is being given to a tribe and there are plans to build even more native american centric tributes and attractions. I find it difficult to believe that they don't know that already which makes this protest over inclusion feel pretty disingenuous. Maybe i'm being overly cynical in thinking that but it seems like people will protest any monument for the sake of doing it if the monument shows a part of history they don't like. Jim Crow era confederate monuments built to intimidate...sure, protest away. But protesting a monument commemorating the extremely unique opening of the UNASSIGNED lands to settlement which was the catalyst for statehood over lack of inclusion of Native American history when an AWESOME Native American shrine is being built nearby? Give me a freaking break. People have lost their darn minds.

Frances Danger addresses the museum here:

https://www.thelostogle.com/2020/07/06/monumental-monstrosity-the-oklahoma-land-run-monument/#comment-348866

Frances Danger addresses the museum here:

https://www.thelostogle.com/2020/07/06/monumental-monstrosity-the-oklahoma-land-run-monument/#comment-348866

I don't really agree with his logic when it comes to saying that basically the museum isn't what they wanted so isn't good enough and the Landrun monument should be removed. To each his own.

I don't really agree with his logic when it comes to saying that basically the museum isn't what they wanted so isn't good enough and the Landrun monument should be removed. To each his own.

FWIW, I don't either. It just sounds like they want to turn back the clock.

FWIW, I don't either. It just sounds like they want to turn back the clock.

My family came here during the Landrun. As the moment that set the founding of our state in motion, I think it should be celebrated alongside Native American history. All land was someone else's at another time and was either sold, gifted/inherited or taken by conquest or other means...and history absolutely sucks for those who were conquered. What happened certainly wasn't fair to the Native American tribes but the settlers competing in the Landrun didn't conquer the tribes... the United States government did. The Boomers, many of whom were immigrants, were just vying for the government to open lands for settlement that were, at the time, unassigned to any tribe (I realize it was part of another tribe's lands long before that...but it wasn't when during the Boomer movement). The monument celebrates the settlers fighting through hardships for their chance at a better life by staking a claim in the unassigned lands, not the US government's conquest of the native americans.

I guess we should ban the musical Oklahoma! next? Change our state song because it came from the musical? Is Far And Away considered a racist film now for centering around the Cherokee Outlet Landrun?

Well, you would have to start by banning "How The West Was Won."

What distresses me about the uproar is the repeated statement by those protesting that the land was "stolen" from the Creeks and Seminoles. They never lived on the area that would be designated "The Unassigned Lands." They were required to forfeit their claim to those lands after the Civil War as punishment for having joined the Confederacy--even though more of those tribal members fought for the UNION than did the other Five Tribes. Then, the government decided to PAY the Creeks and Seminoles for those lands. Was the price fair? Hardly, but that was what it was then. Those lands were purchased from the two tribes. Those people who are saying the Land Run monument is built on "their" tribal lands clearly know nothing of the history of the land--nor would they care. Why worry about truth?

FWIW, I don't either. It just sounds like they want to turn back the clock.

No one wants to turn back the clock, but they want the recording of history and the honoring of the honorable to be fairly portrayed and the evil-doing unmasked. History should be explained accurately, not as a narrative spin for one side or the other. If we only learn about the idealized side of conquering we fail to learn the lesson of the grief and suffering of the conquered. We romanticize the nobility of one without showing how their actions might not have been so noble when you actually show the suffering that went with killing and plundering. Just need to be truthful in order to progress as a society.

What distresses me about the uproar is the repeated statement by those protesting that the land was "stolen" from the Creeks and Seminoles. They never lived on the area that would be designated "The Unassigned Lands." They were required to forfeit their claim to those lands after the Civil War as punishment for having joined the Confederacy--even though more of those tribal members fought for the UNION than did the other Five Tribes. Then, the government decided to PAY the Creeks and Seminoles for those lands. Was the price fair? Hardly, but that was what it was then. Those lands were purchased from the two tribes. Those people who are saying the Land Run monument is built on "their" tribal lands clearly know nothing of the history of the land--nor would they care. Why worry about truth?

This is a pretty sanitized version of how the Native Americans were treated. The rationalizations are incredible.

This is a pretty sanitized version of how the Native Americans were treated. The rationalizations are incredible.

Not a surprise coming from someone with a username of "old okie".

Well, you would have to start by banning "How The West Was Won."

No, I think everyone should know EXACTLY how the west was won. All the gory details. All the brutal murders. All the stolen lands. All the broken promises and treaties. Behind the popularized romanticism and rationalizations is the reality.

So sorry you didn't read what I said. The land was taken away from the Creeks and Seminoles--the very people who supported the Union. The government lied, cheated, killed, maimed--the way they treated the Native Americans (all tribes) was beyond horrible, and yes, it was Andrew Jackson who was the worst of the worst. However, there is no "rationalization" in what I wrote. The documentation for the sale of the land can be found very easily. When those who are saying the land was "taken," that's not what happened. I'm only talking about The Unassigned Lands--not any other areas. The Creeks and Seminoles SOLD the land--under duress? Absolutely, but given the way the government had treated all of them previously, the government would have been expected to "take" the land without compensation of any kind. The government treated the Native Americans disgustingly. But there WAS a land SALE--an arm's-length transaction.

BTW, sorry you hate my name. It refers to my age and where I'm from. Oh, and speaking of where we're from, do you know the origin of the name "Oklahoma" and what it means?

This is a pretty sanitized version of how the Native Americans were treated. The rationalizations are incredible.

My kids have told me they were taught pretty accurate accountings of what really happened to Native Americans in school over the last 20 years. My recollections from the 70s are that l was, too, in OKC public schools. The only thing I know was not accurate was the defintion of a Boomer and the story behind them.

Despite that, as has already been said, Native Americans will be able to have their story told in their new museum half a mile away that has the potential to be massively successful and far bigger than it's starter size. NA's have also started to realize unknown new powers over the lands in OK. As l wondered in the appropriate forum several days ago, l think this SCOTUS decision could be much more than just a matter of US vs. NA jurisdiction. The land run happened and is a huge part of OK history. There is no way it should be removed.

People are making a much bigger deal out of the judgement than it is. It only affects how tribal members are tried...now federal instead of state. It puts more pressure on the federal courts in the short-term. HOWEVER, you will soon see that the tribe will have an agreement put out that handles this issue and basically puts things back the way they were. The tribes have historically been pretty good about the agreements (Gorsech said that was a major part in his decision), so it's not like this is going to shake the foundations of Eastern Oklahoma law.

My kids have told me they were taught pretty accurate accountings of what really happened to Native Americans in school over the last 20 years. My recollections from the 70s are that l was, too, in OKC public schools. The only thing I know was not accurate was the defintion of a Boomer and the story behind them.

Despite that, as has already been said, Native Americans will be able to have their story told in their new museum half a mile away that has the potential to be massively successful and far bigger than it's starter size. NA's have also started to realize unknown new powers over the lands in OK. As l wondered in the appropriate forum several days ago, l think this SCOTUS decision could be much more than just a matter of US vs. NA jurisdiction. The land run happened and is a huge part of OK history. There is no way it should be removed.
No, don't remove it, but along side it have an equally impressive set of sculptures showing the Native Americans trudging from their confiscated lands to Oklahoma in the Trail of Tears. Show the dead they left along the way. While the land run participants were pioneering because they wanted to and were motivated to get free land, the Native Americans were forced to make a much longer journey because the land they already occupied was taken from them, and then the new land they were given was taken away to give to these noble pioneers.

Just curious the name of the OK History textbook they studied from. Would like to read the accounts. Not doubting that your children are able to assuredly ascertain that they were given the whole and balanced truth of history based on their read and teacher's subsequent explanations, so I would like to see the truth as being told to our kids.

and then the new land they were given was taken away to give to these noble pioneers.

.

the land run lands were taken because of who those 2 tribes sided with in the civil war