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The Pioneer Woman Statue
Widely known as the Pioneer Woman Statue, the bronze sculpture's true name is "Confident". It is a heroic statue of a young, sun-bonneted pioneer mother, protectively leading her son by the hand, striding confidently, head held high—a young woman of sturdy beauty and dignity whose eyes are fixed on the far southwestern horizon. Courage, determination, and humility in her face and a bible in her hand.
The Pioneer Woman Statue is seventeen feet tall and weighs twelve thousand pounds. Standing atop a quarry-stone pyramid base, the entire presentation rises to thirty-three feet. It was erected at a cost of $300,000 in 1930, an amount equal to $4,529,568.86 today.
The monument was conceived, directed, and financed by Ernest Whitworth Marland, a millionaire oilman and philanthropist who later became a US Congressman and the tenth governor of Oklahoma. He wanted to create something to pay tribute to his own pioneering mother and grandmother and the other women pioneers who helped settle the new land. In 1926, he launched a design competition for the tribute. He invited 12 sculptors to submit small models and in 1927, these were exhibited in Ponca City and 13 major cities across the nation. With around 750,000 people voting for their preference, artist Bryant Baker's model was the most popular by a large margin.
The sculpture was unveiled at it's permanent location in Ponca City, Oklahoma on April 22, 1930, on the 41st anniversary of the first land run in Oklahoma. President Herbert Hoover gave a nationwide radio address from the White House to mark the occasion, as did Colonel Patrick J. Hurley, a native Oklahoman and Secretary of War. Oklahoma’s favorite son and comedian, Will Rogers, was the closing speaker. The ceremony was attended by roughly 44,000 people.
Standing as a monument to the women who made significant contributions to the Oklahoma that we know today, the statue is inscribed with the words, “In appreciation of the heroic character of the women who braved the dangers and endured the hardships incident to daily life of the pioneer and homesteader in this country.”
The Pioneer Woman Statue is seventeen feet tall and weighs twelve thousand pounds. Standing atop a quarry-stone pyramid base, the entire presentation rises to thirty-three feet. It was erected at a cost of $300,000 in 1930, an amount equal to $4,529,568.86 today.
The monument was conceived, directed, and financed by Ernest Whitworth Marland, a millionaire oilman and philanthropist who later became a US Congressman and the tenth governor of Oklahoma. He wanted to create something to pay tribute to his own pioneering mother and grandmother and the other women pioneers who helped settle the new land. In 1926, he launched a design competition for the tribute. He invited 12 sculptors to submit small models and in 1927, these were exhibited in Ponca City and 13 major cities across the nation. With around 750,000 people voting for their preference, artist Bryant Baker's model was the most popular by a large margin.
The sculpture was unveiled at it's permanent location in Ponca City, Oklahoma on April 22, 1930, on the 41st anniversary of the first land run in Oklahoma. President Herbert Hoover gave a nationwide radio address from the White House to mark the occasion, as did Colonel Patrick J. Hurley, a native Oklahoman and Secretary of War. Oklahoma’s favorite son and comedian, Will Rogers, was the closing speaker. The ceremony was attended by roughly 44,000 people.
Standing as a monument to the women who made significant contributions to the Oklahoma that we know today, the statue is inscribed with the words, “In appreciation of the heroic character of the women who braved the dangers and endured the hardships incident to daily life of the pioneer and homesteader in this country.”
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“ . . . the woman was to me the courageous character marching out, carrying all her worldly belongings, her bible, and her son, the man of tomorrow to a new life . . . She is the abstract, beautiful, ideal woman of the spirit of great faith and hope.”
Bryant Baker
Pioneer Woman Statue Artist and Sculptor
Pioneer Woman Statue Artist and Sculptor
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The Pioneer Woman Museum
The Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City, Oklahoma is dedicated to preserving women’s history and showcasing the historical and continued influence of women on the development of Oklahoma and the United States. In 1957, ground was broken for construction of a 3,000 square foot museum. It was dedicated on September 16, 1958, the 65th anniversary of the opening of the Cherokee Strip for settlement. In 1996, a major expansion project to add 7,000 square feet to the museum began. The Pioneer Woman Museum was rededicated in April 1998 with the completion of the project.
The pioneer spirit embodied by the phrase “I See No Boundaries” is prominent throughout the museum. The museum's exhibits showcase Oklahoma women who were pioneers in various fields up to present day, both on a state and national level. The museum's education center features craft demonstrations, special exhibits, an interactive timeline and the Pioneer Woman Walk of Fame which tells the stories of women from all races and nationalities who contributed to Oklahoma's history.
The Pioneer Woman Museum also hosts many events and educational classes through its education center. The craft demonstrations and interactive areas of the museum are open to anyone who wants to learn spinning, knitting or quilting. Information and artifacts about the daily life of Oklahoma’s Cherokee Strip homesteaders is prominently displayed with photographs, newspaper articles, flyers, memorabilia, artifacts and antiques.
The pioneer spirit embodied by the phrase “I See No Boundaries” is prominent throughout the museum. The museum's exhibits showcase Oklahoma women who were pioneers in various fields up to present day, both on a state and national level. The museum's education center features craft demonstrations, special exhibits, an interactive timeline and the Pioneer Woman Walk of Fame which tells the stories of women from all races and nationalities who contributed to Oklahoma's history.
The Pioneer Woman Museum also hosts many events and educational classes through its education center. The craft demonstrations and interactive areas of the museum are open to anyone who wants to learn spinning, knitting or quilting. Information and artifacts about the daily life of Oklahoma’s Cherokee Strip homesteaders is prominently displayed with photographs, newspaper articles, flyers, memorabilia, artifacts and antiques.
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The structure should not be a statement of current fashion, but instead possess a timeless architectural quality that ages gracefully. A museum must be a structure whose integrity is a proud example of the collection it houses, and in this particular case, it must be a reflection of the spirit of the Pioneer Woman Statue itself.
Rand Elliot
Pioneer Woman Museum 1998 Renovation Architect
Pioneer Woman Museum 1998 Renovation Architect
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Preserve the Museum and Statue for Generations
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Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help preserve this national historic landmark for future generations.
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