Saving the Black Hawk Statue in Illinois

From the U.S. News & World Report  "Groups trying to save Northern Illinois' Black Hawk statue"  AP.

The 48-foot tall, 270 ton landmark located on a bluff in Lowden State Park on the Rock River is getting very old and in need of repairs.  Since five years ago, it has been covered in black protective sheets because of a lack of state funding and disagreements between groups working to preserve it.

Before being covered up it was quite a tourist attraction, drawing 400,000 visitors a year.  That number is down considerably.

Famed sculptor Lorado Taft made the Eternal Indian statue and it was dedicated in 1911 and listed on the NRHP in 2001.

It is most commonly called Black Hawk or the Rock River Collossus.

--DaCoot

Black Hawk Statue Rescue a Step Closer-- Part 1

From the September 2, 2014, Northwest (Ill.) Herald editorial.

"Momentum is building to begin repair work on the 103-year-old Black Hawk statue near Oregon in western Illinois."

The statue is a well-known tourist spot and quite majestic standing 50-foot-tall on the 129-foot bluff overlooking the Rock River at Lowden State Park.

A few weeks ago, the Illinois Department of Natural resources gave its ok to proposed renovation work and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency has already given its approval.

And, most of the money for the project has already been raised.  About $750,000 is available, though an additional $75,000-100,000 may be needed.Contractors still haven't been chosen.

And, It Isn't a Hockey Player.  --DaCoot

The Black Hawk Statue

No, this one is not to those gallant guys who play on the ice at the United Center in Chicago. This one is the 50-foot tall one overlooking the Rock River.

Back in 2009, it was coming close to being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The week before, the Illinois Historical Sites Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend it (one of the steps necessary for inclusion on the list.

It was then sent to the National Register office for a 4-5 week review.

The statue is located on a bluff of the Lowden Memorial; State Park north of the town of Oregon.

sadly, the statue is in need of repair. Cracks are appearing in it; the last major repairs having been done 20 years earlier. Chicago artist Lorado Taft designed it in 1910 and completed it in 1911 to honor Indians, but it is more commonly known as Black Hawk

The Oregon Chamber of Commerce estimates that it draws 400,000 visitors annually. We've seen it several times.

Still On sentinel Duty. --Cooter