In Ponca city, Ok a seventeen foot Bronze Statue depicts a pioneer woman, striding purposefully, in prairie dress holding the hand of a boy and holding in her hand a book.
The Pioneer Woman stands seventeen feet tall in a small northern Oklahoma City called Ponca City. The bronze statue depicts a woman in prairie garb- a simple long sleeved dress that reaches her ankles, a bonnet, and well worn boots. In one hand she clutches a bible, and over her arm carries a cloth bag. She is holding the hand of a young boy dressed in simple garments. His other arm is bent, his hand in a fist. They both wear determined expressions and are captured in mid-stride.
E.W. Marland was a much appreciated Oklahoma citizen, who later served as governor. He was philanthropic, perhaps also a philanderer, but had a lot of money from the oil business with which he was generous. Marland commissioned the Pioneer Woman sculpture to memorialize the strength and courage of the thousands of women who settled the American frontier. He called these women "America's Vanishing People".
In October of 1926, Marland arranged for artists to submit small models of a proposed work. In February he began to have these small pieces exhibited around the country. Seven hundred and fifty thousand US Citizens cast their votes for the sculpture of their choice.
The favorite piece by far was by Bryant Baker. He was born and raised in London, and attended the Royal Academy of the Arts, but came to the United States in 1916 and served as an Army Sergeant from 1918-1919. His Pioneer Woman Statue was erected in 1930 at an overall cost to Marland of $300,000.
At the unveiling ceremonies on April 22, 1930, President Herbert Hoover gave a radio address with forty thousand people in Ponca City for the unveiling, listening. Colonel Patrick J. Hurley from Oklahoma also addressed the crowd, as did Oklahoma humorist Will Rogers.
In 1958 a museum was opened next to the statue to honor all women, regardless of race, creed or national origin, who have been important to Oklahoma's development.
