National Register Record for PIONEER WOMAN STATUE

Historic Name: PIONEER WOMAN STATUE
Current Name: SAME
Address: MONUMENT CIRCLE
City: PONCA CITY            County: KAY
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: THE PIONEER WOMAN STATUE COMMEMORATES THE VITAL ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE PIONEER DAYS OF OKLAHOMA. IT IS A BRONZE CAST THAT STANDS 17 FEET HIGH AND WEIGHTS 12,000 POUNDS. THE STATUE RESTS ON A GRADUATED STONE PEDESTAL. THE STATUE WAS DESIGNED BY BRITISH-BORN ARTIST, BRYANT BAKER, WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1916. IN 1926, HE WAS INVITED TO COMPETE IN A CONTEST SPONSORED BY E.W. MARLAND, ALONG WITH 11 OTHER CONTESTANTS, TO DESIGN A PIONEER STATUE. BAKERS DESIGN WAS CHOSEN AND RECEIVED THE $100,000 GRAND PRIZE. THE STATUE WAS UNVEILED ON APRIL 22, 1930, THE 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAND RUN THAT OPENED OKLAHOMA TERRITORY. LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER, 8/31/1978.

Type: OBJECT
Historic Function: MONUMENT / MARKER
Current Function: MONUMENT / MARKER
Area of Significance 1: SOCIAL HISTORY
Area of Significance 2: None
Architectural Style: None
Architect: BAKER, BRYANT
Year Built: 1930            Original Site: YES
Condition: EXCELLENT
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: IVY COFFEY, "A MARK LEFT ON THE WORLD", OKLAHOMA'S ORBIT, OKLAHOMA CITY, 4/4/1971; MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS AND UNPUBLISHED MATERIALS IN THE OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY (OKLAHOMA CITY) AND THE PONCA CITY CULTURAL CENTER (PONCA CITY)
Date Prepared: 7/1976