Chief Paduke, (sculpture).

Chief Paduke, (sculpture).

Taft, Lorado Zadoc, 1860-1936, sculptor.

Chief Paduke, (sculpture).

Paducah Fountain, (sculpture).

1909. Dedicated May 19, 1909. Relocated June 3, 1937.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: Georgia marble; Base: stone.

Sculpture: approx. H. 63 in.; Base: approx. 87 x 53 x 53 in.

(Front of base, incised lettering:) CHIEF/PADUKE/FOR WHOM/GEN. WILLIAM CLARK/NAMED PADUCAH. (Back of base:) Erected by Paducah Chapter/Daughters of the American Revolution/1909. unsigned

Chief Paduke sits barechested atop a pedestal, a braid hanging over each shoulder, looking to his proper left. He holds a large drum between his legs, with his left arm resting on top of the drum and his proper right arm encircling it. The sculpture is mounted upon a square base decorated with Art Nouveau geometric and floral designs. A drinking fountain is located on the lower section of each side.

Portrait male -- Paduke, Chief -- Full length

Ethnic -- Indian -- Chickasaw

Ethnic -- Indian -- Comanche

Occupation -- Other -- Chief

Dress -- Ethnic -- Indian Dress

Outdoor Sculpture -- Kentucky -- Paducah

Administered by City of Paducah, Parks and Leisure Services of Paducah, 1400 H. C. Mathis Drive, Paducah, Kentucky 42002

Located 19th & Jefferson Street, center island, Paducah, Kentucky

Formerly located Paducah Post Office, 5th & Broadway, in front, Paducah, Kentucky 1909 until June 3, 1937.

Sculpture commemorates Chief Paduke, for whom the city was named. It was commissioned by the Paducah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for $3,000, at the suggestion of the Paducah chapter's regent, Mrs. E. G. Boone. Chief Paduke was reported to be either from a Chickasaw tribe or a Comanche tribe. The sculpture was originally titled "Paducah Fountain" and was originally placed on the northwest corner of Broadway and 5th Street, in front of the Paducah Post Office (which might have also been called the Custom House), but was moved after the Ohio Valley Flood of June 1937.

Historical marker in front of sculpture reads: Chief Paduke/Chief of sub-tribe of Chickasaw/Indians, who lived and hunted in/this area until Jackson Purchase,/1818. Land here then owned by/Gen. William Clark, who founded/Paducah; named it in honor of the/friendly chief. Statue sculptured/by Lorado Taft, 1909, who combined/features of various Indian tribes/in its execution. Marker sponsored by Junior Chamber of Commerce.

IAS files contain articles from: Fred. G. Neuman's "Paducahans in History," Paducah, KY: Young Printing Company, 1922, pg. 22-25 (including historical photo in original location); Fred G. Neuman's "The Story of Paducah," Paducah, KY: Young Printing Company, pg. 27-28; John E. L. Robertson's "Paducah 1830-1980," Paducah, IL: Image Graphics, n.d., pg. i; John E. L. Robertson's "Paducah: A Pictorial History," St. Louis: G. Bradley Publishing Company, 1988, pg. 8; McCracken County Genealogical-Historical Society's "McCracken County, Kentucky History," Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company, 1989, pg. 74; and Richard Holland's "Portrait of a River Town," pg. 36-37.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Kentucky survey, 1994.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, KY0072, 1989.

Monumental News, Jan. 1910, pg. 22.

SOS Assessment Award, 2000.

Inventory staff, 2001.

Neuman, Fred G., "Paducahans in History," Paducah, KY: Young Printing Company, 1922, 3rd ed.

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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