Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark Statue

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LEWIS AND CLARK STATUE Junction of West Main and Ridge Streets. Sculptor, Charles Keck. Unveiled, November 21, 1919. This work is of the romantic school. It is a three-figure group; Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacajawea, the young Indian guide with her child. (Removed by City of Charlottesville, July 10, 2021)
Photo of statue on West Main Street
Photo of statue, ca. 1930

The Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark Statue is an historic statue that commemorates the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Paul Goodloe McIntire gave the statue to the City of Charlottesville as a gift in 1919.[1] It was sculpted by Charles Keck The pedestal is made of Balfour Pink Granite and is fourteen feet tall.[1] The bronze statues are eight feet, four inches tall.[1]

Charlottesville City Council voted on November 15, 2019 to direct staff to come up with a plan to remove the statue, following a work session attended by descendants of Sacagawea. [2]

The original reliefs on the pedestal depict the Pacific slope, the American Eagle, and the seals of the United States and Virginia.[1] There are also bronze bas-reliefs at the base of the statue. The statue was made by Charles Keck.

Location of Statue (1919-2021)

Located junction of West Main and Ridge Streets. Sculptor, Charles Keck. Unveiled, November 21, 1919. This work is of the romantic school. It is a three-figure group; Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacajawea, the young Indian guide with her child. Present Main Street is the Colonial Three-chopt Road, which led from Richmond, passed Boyd’s Tavern and crossed the Rivanna at Secretary’s Ford—now the Woolen Mills (East Market Street). Crossing Mechum’s River it struck in a straight line for Woods’ (now Jarman’s) Gap. It was in use prior to 1746. Though not associated with the expedition, it was felt appropriate to place the explorers on a great early artery and facing into the West.

Removal from junction of West Main and Ridge Streets

Removal from its location on West Main Street and relocated to a storage location owned by the city. (July 10, 2021)

2009

Controversy arose because of its depiction of Sacagawea behind Lewis and Clark.[3] Protestors objected that her bowed head looking down suggested subservience.[4] However, the historian speaking at the statue's unveiling in 1919 said she was the expedition's dauntless guide across the Rockies, the pathfinder.[5] The protests led to the addition of a plaque clarifying Sacagawea's contribution to the expedition.[4]

2019

The topic of moving the statue became more pressing during planning for the West Main Streetscape, which called for moving the statue several feet to allow for closing of a right-turn slip lane. [2]

2021

On Saturday, July 10th, during an emergency/special meeting the Charlottesville City Council (2020-2021) voted unanimously to remove the city’s Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea statue. The 5-0 vote comes after city crews removed a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson the same morning. Spectators lined the blocks surrounding the park, and a cheer went up as the Lee statue lifted off the pedestal. The city announced its plans to remove the statues Friday. Rose Abrahamson, a Native American woman, gave her opinion on the decision during the meeting.

"I feel that it's entirely offensive and it should be obliterated, but if it can be utilized to give a message to give a greater message to educate the public, that would be an opportunity," Abrahamson said.

Local Voices, Local History

<youtube>LRhza96gefY</youtube>
VIDEO CREDITS: Narrated by Jennifer Tidwell;
Graphic design: Jen Fleischer; Project Manager: Kristin Rourke.

Gallery

20141214-west-main-statue.JPG

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Armistead Churchill Gordon, The Unveiling of the Lewis-Clark Statue: At Midway Park in the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, November Twenty-one, Nineteen Hundred Nineteen ... Being a Record of the Exercises Attending the Unveiling, Published by City of Charlottesville (1919)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Web. City Council votes to remove Lewis-Clark-Sacagawea statue, Nolan Stout, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, November 15, 2019, retrieved November 17, 2019. Print. November 16, 2019 page A1.
  3. Web. Sacajawea Acknowledged on Lewis & Clark Statue, Waldo Jaquith, cvillenews.com, 19 June 2009, retrieved 16 Feb 2012.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Web. Loo-loo cry: Sacajawea gets a plaque, David McNair, The Hook, June 25, 2009, retrieved November 10, 2015.
  5. Armistead Churchill Gordon, The Unveiling of the Lewis-Clark Statue, page 27: "when they returned to Fort Mandan the dauntless Indian woman, Sacajawea, who had been their guide across the Rockies [departed] with her French-Canadian husband, Chaboneau . . . "

External links