Westport Memorial Marker, (sculpture).

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Westport Memorial Marker, (sculpture).

Gage, Merrell, 1892-1981, sculptor.

Westport Memorial Marker, (sculpture).

Westport's Pioneer Mother Memorial, (sculpture).

Pioneer Mother Memorial, (sculpture).

1920. Dedicated Oct. 10, 1920.

Digital Reference:

Plaques: bronze, with patina; Boulder: granite.

Plaques: each approx. 30 in. x 20 in. x 1 1/4 in.; Boulder: approx. 81 in. x 4 ft. x 4 ft.

(On plaque on east side of boulder, in upper proper left corner, raised:) TO THE/PIONEER/MOTHER (On plaque on east side of boulder, on lower proper left side:) R.M.GAGE/1920 (On plaque on west side of boulder, centered above seal, raised:) DAUGHTERS OF OLD/WESTPORT (On plaque on west side of boulder, at lower proper right of seal:) 1832 (On plaque on west side of boulder, at lower proper left of seal:) 1920 (On plaque on west side of boulder, below seal:) ERECTED BY THE/DAUGHTERS OF OLD/WESTPORT IN HONOR/OF THE PIONEERS/OF WESTPORT signed

Two bronze plaques are attached to a granite boulder. The plaque on the east side of the boulder features a relief of a mother and her two children. The mother faces her proper left, holding a small baby and a rifle. A small child, facing proper left, stands on the proper right side of the mother. The plaque on the west side of the boulder features a relief of the seal of the Daughters of Old Westport. Near the top of the seal on each side is a small steer's head. On the proper right side is a seated trapper holding a hunting gun on his lap, pointed proper left. On the proper left side is an Indian, facing proper right, trading a skin to the trapper. Both plaques also contain inscriptions.

Figure group -- Family -- Mother & Child

Occupation -- Other -- Pioneer

Occupation -- Hunter -- Trapper

Ethnic -- Indian

History -- United States -- Westward Expansion

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Outdoor Sculpture -- Missouri -- Kansas City

Administered by City of Kansas City, Missouri, Department of Parks and Recreation, Planning Services Division, 4600 East 63rd Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64130

Located Traffic island at intersection between 40th Street & 40th Terrace, Broadway & Washington Street, Kansas City, Missouri

Dedicated to the pioneers of the town of Westport by the Daughters of Old Westport. IAS files contain copy of newspaper article from the Kansas City Star, Oct. 10, 1920, pg. 4, which discusses dedication plans. The photograph on file in IAS shows the east side of the boulder; the illustration in Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners, Kansas City, MO, "Historic & Dedicatory Monuments of Kansas City," 1987, pg. 76, shows the west side of the boulder.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Missouri, Kansas City survey, 1993.

Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners, Kansas City, MO, "Historic & Dedicatory Monuments of Kansas City," 1987, pg. 76.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners, Kansas City, MO,"Historic & Dedicatory Monuments of Kansas City," 1987, pg. 76.

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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