The Gift of the Smoking Water, (sculpture).

The Gift of the Smoking Water, (sculpture).

Shippen, Gerald, sculptor.

Caleco Foundry, Inc., founder

The Gift of the Smoking Water, (sculpture).

Commissioned Oct. 1984. 1986. Copyrighted 1986. Dedicated July 25, 1987.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze with brown to black patina; Basin: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. H. 11 ft. x Diam. 62 in.; Basin: approx. H. 30 in. x Diam. 22 ft. (2,410 lbs.).

(Rock, beneath McLaughlin's proper right boot, incised:) G A Shippen/SCULPTOR (copyright symbol)/1986 (Bottom of sculpture, raised:) "THE GIFT OF THE SMOKING WATER" (Rock, beneath Washakie's feet:) TIME WILL TELL THOUGH/OF TRUST THIS TREATY BROUGHT/OF PEACE THEIR PEOPLE SOUGHT/OF THE GIFT THIS WATER BROUGHT signed

Depicts the three men instrumental to the Treaty of 1896 ceding the hot springs and state park lands: James McLaughlin, Chief Washakie, and Chief Sharp Nose. The three figures are larger than life, and stand in a circle around a rock with their backs to each other. Washakie wears moccasins and a loincloth. His proper left hand holds a cape over his proper right shoulder and his proper right hand holds a peace pipe towards McLaughlin. McLaughlin wears boots, pants, vest, button-down shirt, and a long-tailed coat. His proper left hand holds the treaty near Washakie's pipe and his proper right hand is extended to receive Sharp Nose's cup. Sharp Nose wears a loincloth over long pants and moccasins. His proper left hand offers a buffalo horn cup to McLaughlin and his proper right arm hangs by his side. The central rock is covered with ivy. Upon it leans a flagpole bearing an American flag with 44 stars. The sculpture is within a basin that serves as a fountain.

Portrait male -- McLaughlin, James -- Full length

Portrait male -- Washakie, Chief -- Full length

Portrait male -- Sharp Nose, Chief -- Full length

History -- United States -- Treaty of 1896

Occupation -- Other -- Chief

Occupation -- Political -- Diplomat

Ethnic -- Indian -- Shoshone

Ethnic -- Indian -- Arapaho

Object -- Other -- Flag

Object -- Written Matter -- Scroll

Object -- Other -- Pipe

Object -- Other -- Dish

Outdoor Sculpture -- Wyoming -- Thermopolis

Administered by Hot Springs State Park, 220 Park Street, Thermopolis, Wyoming 82433

Located Hot Springs State Park, Wyoming Pioneer Home, Thermopolis, Wyoming

Commissioned by the State Recreation Commission for $23,750 in funds provided by Wyoming's 46th Legislature under its Art and Public Buildings program. Sculpture depicts the Treaty of 1896, in which the Shoshone and Arapahoe tribes sold the land that now is Hot Springs State Park. Washakie was chief of the Shoshones, Sharp Nose was chief of the Arapahoes, and McLaughlin was Indian Inspector. IAS files contain transcription of nearby plaque and related articles from the Cody Enterprise (Cody, WY), July 15, 1987; the Riverton Ranger (Riverton, WY), Dec. 5, 1984, and April 22, 1987. For related information see: "Art in Public Buildings," Wyoming Arts Council, 1985 pg. 5.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Wyoming survey, 1994.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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