Black Hawk Statue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Eternal Indian
(listed as Indian Statue) |
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Lorado Taft's The Eternal Indian stares solemnly across the Rock River.
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| Location | Lowden State Park |
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| Nearest city | Oregon, Illinois |
| Built | 1908-1911 |
| Architect | Lorado Taft (artist) |
| Architectural style | Concrete monolith |
| Visitation | 400,000 (2009) |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000871 |
| Added to NRHP | November 5, 2009 |
The Eternal Indian, also known as the Black Hawk Statue, is a giant sculpture in Lowden State Park, near Oregon, Illinois. This impressive statue stands 48 feet (14.6 meters) tall. It was created by the famous artist Lorado Taft and was officially dedicated in 1911.
The statue sits high on a bluff, about 77 feet (23.5 meters) above the Rock River. It looks out over the water and the nearby city. Lorado Taft said the statue shows the strong spirit of Native Americans. While it's not a picture of one person, it was partly inspired by Black Hawk, a leader of the Sauk tribe. In 2009, the statue was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important historical landmark.
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History of the Statue
The idea for The Eternal Indian began in 1908 with sculptor Lorado Taft. He first made smaller versions of the statue to plan his big project. The completed statue was dedicated in 1911. Taft felt that the statue looked like it had naturally grown right out of the ground.
The statue stands on land that used to be home to the Eagle's Nest Art Colony. This art colony was started by Lorado Taft in 1898. Today, this area is part of Northern Illinois University's Taft Campus and is next to Lowden State Park.
When the statue was being built, money ran out before it was finished. Future Illinois Governor Frank Lowden stepped in to help. He made sure that the statue could be completed and put in place. You can see a smaller model of the statue at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, Illinois. Another model is at the Oregon Public Library in Oregon, Illinois.
What the Statue Looks Like
The Eternal Indian statue itself is 48 feet tall. But because it's on a high bluff, it stands about 125 feet above the Rock River. The statue is very heavy, weighing about 536,770 pounds! It is thought to be the second largest concrete statue in the world. The only one bigger is Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.
The statue shows a figure wearing a long blanket. Its arms are folded across its chest, and it looks out calmly across the river.
Lorado Taft worked with a young sculptor named John G. Prasuhn from the Art Institute of Chicago. Together, they created this nearly 50-foot-tall figure, which includes a six-foot base. The statue is hollow inside and is reinforced with iron rods. Its walls are between eight inches and three feet thick. The outside layer is made of cement, pink granite chips, and other materials, and it's about three inches thick. There's a door at the base to go inside, but visitors are not allowed in right now.
Why it's a Historic Place
On November 5, 2009, the Black Hawk Statue was officially added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This special listing helps the statue get federal money. This funding can be used for important repairs, like fixing cracks that naturally form in its concrete surface over time.
Restoring the Statue
Over the years, the statue needed repairs because some of its concrete had worn away. Groups of concerned citizens worked hard to raise money for its restoration.
From June 2016 to June 2018, the Black Hawk statue was covered in black tarp and ropes. This was because the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which owns the statue, didn't have enough money set aside for the repairs.
In October 2017, local citizens formed the Black Hawk Restoration Committee. They worked with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to find a solution. On June 1, 2018, the wrapping was finally removed from the statue.
Later, the State of Illinois government provided a grant of $350,000 for the restoration. The Black Hawk Restoration Committee also worked to raise more money from the public. By November 2018, they had raised almost $600,000. The goal was to finish the restoration by August 2019. The statue was covered again for protection during the final stages of work. The restoration was mostly finished by December 2019. The full restoration was completed and the statue was unwrapped in January 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Estatua de Halcón Negro para niños
