Fort Pierre Historic Sculptures
Fort Pierre – the most historic city in South Dakota – is working to bring a series of sculptures to our town, to help tell the story of who we are and where we came from.
The first sculpture is a Bison bull, being created by renowned artist John Lopez from Lemmon, South Dakota. When this life-sized sculpture is done, it will be installed at the new Bridge Plaza area at the Commander John C. Waldron Bridge.
The next sculpture in process is a scale-model of the USS Hornet, the aircraft carrier that transported Commander Waldron’s torpedo squadron. It is very detailed, complete with all equipment and airplanes.
The third sculpture in the series of nine will be of Pierre Chouteau, the community’s namesake, and a symbol of the community’s founding history as the “Fur Trading Capital of the Northwest.” Established in 1832 by Pierre Chouteau Jr. to replace nearby Fort Tecumseh, Fort Pierre Chouteau became the American Fur Company’s headquarters in the Upper Missouri Region.
Additional sculptures include Scotty & Sarah Philip, the Verendrye Brothers, Lewis & Clark and Chief Black Buffalo, and White Buffalo Calf Woman.
Members of the Fort Pierre Historic Sculptures Committee include Committee Chair Judy Weisgram, Fort Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson, Leroy Foster, Tad Perry, Pat Miller, Sunny Hannum, Sandy Zinter, Tom LaFaive, Chris Maxwell, Doug Mortenson, Jeff Mortenson, Karl Fischer, Eileen Fischer, and Rick Hahn.
If you would like to contribute to the Fort Pierre Historic Sculpture Project,
please contact us at history@fortpierresculptures.com
Pierre Chouteau, Jr.
Established in 1832 by Pierre Chouteau Jr. to replace nearby Fort Tecumseh, Fort Pierre Chouteau became one of the company’s headquarters of the Upper Missouri region.
Lewis & Clark and Chief Black Buffalo
On September 23, 1884, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and the Corps of Discovery made their first contact with members of the Lakota Nation, but for the peace-making efforts of Chief Black Buffalo, might have ended the Expedition.
Scotty & Sarah Philip
In 1881, James "Scotty" Philip and Sarah Larribee settled down to ranch in Stanley County, Dakota Territory, just east of the present location of Philip, whose name memorializes the man who helped found it.
Casey Tibbs
Casey Duane Tibbs was known as “the Babe Ruth of Rodeo,” winning championships across the nation. His rodeo skills and success in the film industry make Tibbs not only a South Dakota Great Face, but a great face throughout the world.
Francois and Louis-Joseph Verendrye
At the end of March, 1743, after visiting with local Arikaras, they buried a lead plate at the site to lay the basis for French sovereignty on the upper Missouri, seeking to establish French control of the entire Mississippi River drainage.
Commander John Waldron
Waldron was born on August 24, 1900 at Fort Pierre, South Dakota, son of rancher Charles Westbrook Waldron and Jane Van Metre grandson of lawyer and probate Judge George Prentiss Waldron, and a sixth great nephew of Richard Waldron.
Fort Pierre – the most historic city in South Dakota – is working to bring a series of sculptures to our town, to help tell the story of who we are and where we came from. The first sculpture is a Bison bull, being created by renowned artist John Lopez…
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