Oregon Pioneer
Encyclopedia
The Oregon Pioneer statue is an eight-and-a-half ton bronze statue with gold leaf finish that sits atop the Oregon State Capitol
in Salem, Oregon
, United States
. Created by Ulric Ellerhusen
, the statue is a 22 ft (7 m)-tall hollow sculpture
. The gilded piece was installed atop the building in 1938 when a new capitol was built.
magazine called it, was built in New Jersey
by sculptor Ulric Ellerhusen. While under construction, Ellerhusen had a large door built in order to allow him to move the statue
outdoors to view how it would look in natural lighting. It was finished in 1938 and shipped to Oregon
for installation on top of the new capitol building. The previous capitol building had burned in 1935. Shipped to Oregon via the Panama Canal
, the statue then traveled by rail to Salem, and then by truck to the capitol. Installation began on September 17, 1938, when the pioneer was hoisted to the top of the building as the installation took several days and was briefly delayed in order for the contractor to find heavier duty equipment to lift the heavy statue.
Although the rotunda of the capitol that the statue rests upon was damaged in the 1993 Scotts Mills earthquake, the statue itself was unharmed even though it did shift. The Oregon Pioneer statue has been finished with a new layer of gold leaf
four times in its history. First in 1939 and again in 1958 by Bob Fulton, then in 1984 by John Edwards and Roy Darby. Then in September 2000, it was re-gilded
for the fourth time by Lee Littlewood, Peter McKearnan and Nancy Comstock.
In January 2001 the Capitol stopped lighting the pioneer at night. This was to save energy during the Western Energy Crisis
. Then in April 2002 solar panel
s were installed on the building to power the floodlights
that illuminate the statue at night. These panels generate an average of 7.8 kilowatts and were the first solar panels ever installed on a state capitol. The 850 square feet (79 m²) array cost $60,000 and was purchased by Portland General Electric
using a special ratepayer financed fund dedicated to purchasing from renewable energy
sources. As the solar array produces twice as much power as is needed, the additional energy is sent to the power grid and is enough to power roughly one home for eight months out of the year.
. It can be reached by a 121-step spiral staircase that starts on the buildings fourth floor. The pioneer is 22 feet (6.7 m) tall and sits on a 23 feet (7 m) tall marble base. The head measures six feet ten inches in circumference. Hollow inside, the bronze
artwork weighs 8.5 short tons (7.7 t) with a gold leaf finish. The gold leaf is 23K gold
and must be refurbished every so often due to physical abrasion from dust (and scratches from bird claws).
The pioneer depicted holds a splitting axe
in his right hand with the blade end facing the ground. In the other hand is a tarp
, as according to the artist the pioneer was planning on building a shelter. The pioneer also has a beard and looks to the west while facing north. The capitol conducts tours that include trips to the base of the statue.
Oregon State Capitol
The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capital, Salem. The current building, constructed from 1936 to 1938, and expanded in 1977, is the third...
in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Created by Ulric Ellerhusen
Ulric Ellerhusen
Ulric Henry Ellerhusen first name variously cited as Ulrich or Ulrik, surname sometimes cited as Ellerhousen) was a German-American sculptor and teacher best known for his architectural sculpture....
, the statue is a 22 ft (7 m)-tall hollow sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
. The gilded piece was installed atop the building in 1938 when a new capitol was built.
History
The "brawny woodsman", as TimeTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine called it, was built in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
by sculptor Ulric Ellerhusen. While under construction, Ellerhusen had a large door built in order to allow him to move the statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
outdoors to view how it would look in natural lighting. It was finished in 1938 and shipped to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
for installation on top of the new capitol building. The previous capitol building had burned in 1935. Shipped to Oregon via the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, the statue then traveled by rail to Salem, and then by truck to the capitol. Installation began on September 17, 1938, when the pioneer was hoisted to the top of the building as the installation took several days and was briefly delayed in order for the contractor to find heavier duty equipment to lift the heavy statue.
Although the rotunda of the capitol that the statue rests upon was damaged in the 1993 Scotts Mills earthquake, the statue itself was unharmed even though it did shift. The Oregon Pioneer statue has been finished with a new layer of gold leaf
Gold leaf
right|thumb|250px|[[Burnishing]] gold leaf with an [[agate]] stone tool, during the water gilding processGold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades...
four times in its history. First in 1939 and again in 1958 by Bob Fulton, then in 1984 by John Edwards and Roy Darby. Then in September 2000, it was re-gilded
Gilding
The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as "gilt"...
for the fourth time by Lee Littlewood, Peter McKearnan and Nancy Comstock.
California electricity crisis
The California electricity crisis, also known as the Western U.S. Energy Crisis of 2000 and 2001 was a situation in which California had a shortage of electricity caused by market manipulations and illegal shutdowns of pipelines by Texas energy consortiums...
. Then in April 2002 solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
s were installed on the building to power the floodlights
High-intensity discharge lamp
High-intensity discharge lamps are a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. This tube is filled with both gas and metal salts. The gas facilitates the...
that illuminate the statue at night. These panels generate an average of 7.8 kilowatts and were the first solar panels ever installed on a state capitol. The 850 square feet (79 m²) array cost $60,000 and was purchased by Portland General Electric
Portland General Electric
Portland General Electric is an electrical utility based in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. It distributes electricity to customers in parts of Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion, Yamhill, Washington, and Polk counties - half of the inhabitants of Oregon...
using a special ratepayer financed fund dedicated to purchasing from renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
sources. As the solar array produces twice as much power as is needed, the additional energy is sent to the power grid and is enough to power roughly one home for eight months out of the year.
Details
The statue sits 140 feet (42.7 m) above the ground on top of the Capitol’s rotundaRotunda (architecture)
A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
. It can be reached by a 121-step spiral staircase that starts on the buildings fourth floor. The pioneer is 22 feet (6.7 m) tall and sits on a 23 feet (7 m) tall marble base. The head measures six feet ten inches in circumference. Hollow inside, the bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
artwork weighs 8.5 short tons (7.7 t) with a gold leaf finish. The gold leaf is 23K gold
Carat (purity)
The karat or carat is a unit of purity for gold alloys.- Measure :Karat purity is measured as 24 times the purity by mass:where...
and must be refurbished every so often due to physical abrasion from dust (and scratches from bird claws).
The pioneer depicted holds a splitting axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
in his right hand with the blade end facing the ground. In the other hand is a tarp
Tarp
Tarp may mean:* Tarpaulin, a large sheet of strong, flexible, water resistant or waterproof material.* Tarp, Germany, a municipality in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.TARP or T.A.R.P. may mean:...
, as according to the artist the pioneer was planning on building a shelter. The pioneer also has a beard and looks to the west while facing north. The capitol conducts tours that include trips to the base of the statue.