A Gargantuan Ghosstable in the Midwest Middle: The Legacy of Elmwood's Bronze

Over there in Central Park, Elmwood, rests a colossal figure, not a tree but a 3,500-pound Bronze titan, nicknamed 'The Pioneers'. Sketched by our very own Chicagoan, Lorado Taft, this sculptor who's 'Chicago' threaded onto his denim jacket gives the illusion of a gritty Midwestern spirit. The obstacles of traveling West would seem to carve a weary expression, but with this piece, Taft has handed us a time-honored Midwestern spirit, temporary break from his silky-smooth Renaissance style.

It's not the usual inanimate, static statue you'd stroll past; Taft has breathed life into it, creating a Western frontier wonderland in his mind, a departure from his Renaissance-era repertoire. As you saunter by, seemingly as an ordinary part of your day, it's easy to forget the rich history beneath your feet. That is, until a dedicated crafter like Taft brings to life a landmark monument, pulling us into the forgotten days gone by.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons