End of the Trail (sculpture) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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End of the Trail
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Shaler Park Waupun, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1928 |
| Sculptor | James Earl Fraser |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000136 |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1980 |
The End of the Trail is a famous sculpture by James Earle Fraser. It is located in Waupun, Wisconsin, United States. The statue shows a tired Native American man on a weary horse. They appear to have reached the very edge of the land.
This powerful artwork shares a message about the challenges Native Americans faced. It shows the sadness and exhaustion of people who were forced from their homes. The sculpture reminds us of the impact of European settlement on their way of life.
The Story Behind the Sculpture
James Earle Fraser first created this sculpture in 1894. He was inspired by his childhood experiences in the Dakota Territory. He remembered an old trapper saying that Native Americans would someday be pushed all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Fraser wanted to create a statue that showed this idea. He imagined a Native American person reaching the "end of the trail" at the ocean's edge. This vision led to his famous artwork.
Exhibitions and Copies
A large plaster version of the sculpture was shown in 1915. It was part of the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. The sculpture won a gold medal there. Soon, pictures and photos of the statue became very popular.
After the exhibition, it was hard to find bronze to make copies. This was because of World War I. So, the plaster sculpture was put into a mud pit in Marina Park. Luckily, it was saved in 1919. It was then moved to Mooney Grove Park in California.
The statue in Waupun, Wisconsin, is a bronze copy of that plaster sculpture. Clarence Shaler asked for this bronze version in 1926. It was officially presented on June 23, 1929. It was meant to honor Native Americans.
The original plaster sculpture was moved again in 1968. It went from Visalia, California, to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. There, it was fixed up and is now at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Visalia received a bronze copy to replace it.
The Waupun statue was recognized as important in 1980. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
"End of the Trail" Today
Many copies of the 1915 statue can be seen today. One is at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. Another is at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota. This is James Earle Fraser's hometown.
The image of the statue even appeared on an album cover. It was on the original cover of the 1971 album Surf's Up by the Beach Boys.
