The Pioneer Mother Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Pioneer Mother Memorial |
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The memorial sculpture in 2013
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| Artist | Avard Fairbanks |
| Year | 1928 |
| Type | Sculpture |
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| Subject | Pioneer mother and children |
| Condition | Renovated c. 2000 |
| Location | Vancouver, Washington, United States |
| 45°37′37″N 122°40′30″W / 45.62708°N 122.674929°W | |
The Pioneer Mother Memorial is a special bronze sculpture located in Esther Short Park in Vancouver, Washington. It was created in 1928 by an American artist named Avard Fairbanks. This memorial is also sometimes called Pioneer Mother or Pioneer Mothers.
The sculpture shows a mother and three children. It was made to honor the brave pioneer mothers who helped settle the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Some people believe the main woman in the sculpture might be Esther Short herself. She was one of the first U.S. citizens to arrive in Fort Vancouver. A local banker, Edward Crawford, and his wife Ida paid $10,000 for the sculpture. It is one of the oldest pieces of public art in Vancouver. It was bought in 1928 and officially shown to the public in 1929. The sculpture was cleaned up and fixed around the year 2000. The City of Vancouver's Parks & Recreation department takes care of it today.
Contents
What Does the Pioneer Mother Memorial Look Like?
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The Pioneer Mother Memorial stands at the north entrance of Esther Short Park. This park is named after Esther Short and her husband Amos, who were early American settlers in the area. The sculpture honors all the strong mothers who helped build new communities on the frontier. Some sources even say the main woman in the sculpture is Esther Short herself.
The sculpture was made in Florence, Italy. This is where Avard Fairbanks was working at the time.
The Main Figures: Mother and Children
The memorial features a full-size bronze statue of a mother with three children. The woman is dressed in old-fashioned pioneer clothes. She wears a long dress, a shawl, and shoes. She stands facing forward and holds a flintlock rifle in her right hand. Her left hand rests on the head of one of the two girls standing next to her. The taller girl holds the shorter one. The shorter girl leans against the mother's left knee. A young boy holds onto the mother's dress and leans against her rifle.
The sculpture itself is about 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall. It sits on a base made of concrete and granite.
Details on the Back of the Memorial
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Behind the main figures, there is a concrete wall. On the back of this wall, there is a bronze medallion. This medallion has a raised picture, called a bas-relief. It shows a team of oxen pulling a covered wagon. A man leads the animals, and a woman with a baby sits inside the wagon. A large barrel is tied to the wagon. Below this scene, there is a picture of a cattle skull. The medallion is about 36 inches (91 cm) wide.
Messages on the Sculpture
The memorial has several messages carved into it. Near the woman's foot, it says: "Avard Fairbanks / 1928". The medallion also has two inscriptions. One below the wagon says: "1928 Avard Fairbanks". Another says: "THE / PIONEER / MOTHERS". On the concrete wall below the medallion, there is a longer message: "ERECTED IN MEMORY OF / THE PIONEER MOTHERS / THROUGH THE GIFT OF / MR. & MRS. E. G. CRAWFORD / 1928".
History of the Pioneer Mother Memorial
The Pioneer Mother Memorial is one of the oldest public artworks in Vancouver. The Clark County Historical Museum even says it's the very oldest! It was bought in 1928 and officially shown to the public on July 21, 1929. Some records say it was unveiled on September 7, 1929. Avard Fairbanks, the artist, was there for the ceremony.
Edward Crawford, a banker from Vancouver, and his wife Ida asked Fairbanks to create the memorial. They gave $10,000 to make it happen.
In 1995, a program called "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" said the artwork needed some care. It was cleaned and fixed up around the year 2000 as part of improvements to the park. The City of Vancouver's Parks & Recreation department continues to look after the memorial today.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento conmemorativo a la madre pionera para niños
