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Lincoln-Black Hawk Statue Dedication
October 13, 2002
Oregon, Illinois
1:00 p.m. in Mix ParkThe scenic town of Oregon, located in the beautiful Rock River Valley, will gain a new Lincoln statue this fall. Abraham Lincoln first visited the area in 1832 while serving with the Illinois Militia in the Black Hawk War. The bronze statue, entitled "Paths of Conviction, Footsteps of Fate," includes the figure of Chief Black Hawk. Oregon also boasts the famous 48-foot concrete Black Hawk statue by Lorado Taft, found in Lowden State Park.
Lincoln returned to Oregon twice in 1856 on a speaking tour for John C. Fremont, the first Republican candiate for president. A boulder marks one of the speech locations on north Fourth Street.
Terrance J. Egan of the Lincoln/Black Hawk Committee, has provided this information about the statue dedication: "Please mark your calendar for Sunday, October 13 for the unveiling and dedication of a major new Lincoln sculpture! The event will start at 1:00 p.m. in Mix Park on South Route 2 in Oregon, Illinois. We are expecting donors, volunteers, community leaders, history buffs, the arts community, political leaders, as well as members of the media. We would be delighted to know if you will be joining us for the afternoon! For more information contact me by email."
"The project includes a committed group of volunteers and a very talented figurative artist by the name of Jeff Adams who have had an ambitious vision for our community. This vision is for a large bronze sculpture that lifts up the life and death struggles of two historical legends whose paths crossed in the Rock River territory."
"You will have to see it in person to appreciate the grandeur of a thirteen-foot tall bronze sculpture of Abraham Lincoln and Chief Black Hawk that will be installed along Route 2. Photos of the sculpture and a biography of the artist can be found at www.inbronze.com."
"Not often does a small town of 2,800 people raise $130,000 to build a sculpture of this magnitude. However, this piece will complement several sculptures in our community that were completed by Laredo Taft several decades ago. Oregon is also known for the art colony and valuable WPA-era paintings in the Oregon Public Library. We feel that this monumental piece will further define our community as a significant center for arts and culture in the region."
Visiting Information
You will find Oregon in north-central Illinois about 22 miles southwest of Rockford at the junction of Routes 2 and 64. The statue ceremonies will be held in Mix Park on the south edge of town.
Related Links
City of Oregon, Illinois
Lincoln/Black Hawk Sculpture
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