A Story through Sculpture | Oregon, IL

Where Midwestern history, art, & natural beauty meet.

Along the Rock River in Oregon, Illinois, art doesn’t just live inside museums — it’s part of the landscape. The Oregon Sculpture Trail is an immersive, self-guided experience of over 20 sculptures that span more than a century of creativity, honoring artists past and present while celebrating the community’s ties to agriculture, history, and nature.

This extraordinary collection began with the formation of the Eagles’ Nest Art Colony in 1898, when renowned sculptor Lorado Taft and fellow Chicago artists established a seasonal retreat in Oregon. Their legacy lives on through the towering Black Hawk Statue and other enduring works. That spirit was rekindled in 2004 with the Community Art Legacy (CAL) project, which commissioned 10 new sculptures by contemporary artists over a 10-year period.

Whether placed in parks, gardens, civic lawns, or tucked into corners of local landmarks, these works invite you to explore Oregon with fresh eyes. Start scrolling to begin our adventure!

Historic Sculptures

1) The Eternal Indian (Black Hawk Statue)
By Lorado Taft
A 48-foot concrete tribute to the Native American spirit, overlooking the Rock River since 1911. Inspired by the quiet, thoughtful way the local tribes once paused on the bluff, Taft designed this figure to honor the Fox, Sac, Sioux, and Mohawk peoples. The statue stands 125 feet above the Rock River, watching over the land that sustained those who came before.
📍 Lowden State Park, 1411 N. River Rd., Oregon, IL 61061

2) Fish Boys
By Lorado Taft
Playful concrete figures inspired by Taft’s Chicago fountain invite relaxation and reflection. It features two kneeling boys holding large fish with water gently flowing from their mouths. These peaceful figures invite visitors to rest, reflect, or enjoy conversation in a serene setting.
📍 Mix Park, 701 S. 4th St., Oregon, IL 61061

3) The Blind
By Lorado Taft
Located inside the Oregon Public Library, The Blind is a working plaster model of Lorado Taft’s 1908 sculpture inspired by the play Les Aveugles (The Blind). The original, a powerful symbolic group portraying blind adults led by a sighted child holding up a light of hope, is displayed at the Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois, Urbana.
📍 Oregon Public Library, 300 Jefferson St., Oregon, IL 61061

4) The Soldier’s Monument
By Lorado Taft
Located on the courthouse lawn, The Soldier’s Monument honors more than 3,500 local veterans from the Civil War through the Spanish-American, the War of 1812, and the Mexican Wars. It honors over 3,500 local veterans with symbolic bronze figures and engraved plaques. Dedicated in 1916, it drew nearly 4,000 attendees
📍 Ogle County Courthouse, 106 S. 5th St., Oregon, IL 61061

5) The Seven Muses, “The Funeral Procession” | PRIVATE PROPERTY*
Created in 1902 and attributed to students of Lorado Taft, it features hooded figures carrying a coffin, a symbol of contemplation and introspection. The faces were modeled from life masks of the artists themselves. It is set on the Lorado Taft Campus within Lowden State Park. Northern Illinois University closed this private campus in late 2024.
📍 Lowden State Park’s Taft Campus, Oregon, IL 61061

*NOTE: This is located on private property. Please respect these spaces and obtain permission before visiting or viewing the works in person.

Community Art Legacy (CAL) Sculptures

6) From the Waters Comes My Bounty
By Ray Kobald
Located east of the dam in Oregon Park East, this sculpture pays homage to the Rock River’s abundant generosity.
📍 Oregon Park East, 120 N. River Rd., Oregon, IL 61061

7) Agriculture, Mother of Civilization
By David Seagraves
This sculpture embodies the nurturing spirit of the earth. She personifies the fertility and enduring legacy of agriculture in Ogle County—a maternal force at the heart of civilization.
📍 Ogle County Courthouse (Judicial Center side), 106 S. 5th St., Oregon, IL 61061

8) Cornball
By Howard Russo
A whimsical form inspired by the repeating patterns of cornrows and nods to the growing global significance of this humble grain.
📍 CMAAA (Oregon Coliseum), 124 N. 4th St., Oregon, IL 61061

9) The Bountiful Bench
By Christina Murphy
A welcoming bench combining nature, harvest, and the local beauty of the Rock River.
📍 Oregon Public Library, 300 Jefferson St., Oregon, IL 61061

10) Solar Reef
By Andrew Langoussis
Set atop the hill in the park, inspired by the sun, it’s encircled by sculpted impressions of rolling fields, structures, and landscapes, reflecting the connection between sunlight and growth.
TIP: best viewed at sunrise.
📍 Oregon Park West, 1402 Koontz Pl., Oregon, IL 61061

11) Makin’ Hay
By Daniel Ingebritson
Capturing the rhythm of fieldwork in bronze motion. This sculpture captures the farmer’s sweeping stroke of the scythe through hay.
📍 Stillman Bank, 1445 IL-2, Oregon, IL 61061

12) Harvest Moon
By Matthew Donavon
Features an owl and full moon, evoking fall’s mystery and harvest season.
📍 Nash Recreation Center, 304 S. 5th St., Oregon, IL 61061

13) Working the Land
By Robert Pulley
Set in the Oregon Community Gardens, its form speaks to the timeless bond between people and the earth they cultivate.
📍 Rock River Center, 810 S. 10th St., Oregon, IL 61061

14) Soy Pod
By Pamela Lee
On the lawn behind the Oregon Public Library, Soy Pod illustrates the interdependence of crops and livestock.
📍 Oregon Public Library Lawn, 300 Jefferson St., Oregon, IL 61061

15) Expedition of the Rock River Valley
By Steven Carpenter
The final piece in the CAL project, this piece portrays Oregon’s founder, John Phelps, arriving by canoe with his French guide at the very site, located behind CMAAA. This sculpture not only commemorates a pivotal moment in local history but also ties into the overarching theme of “art and agriculture.”
📍 Behind CMAAA (Oregon Coliseum), 124 N. 4th St., Oregon, IL 61061

Commissioned Sculptures

16) The Holy Family
By David Seagraves
A 3.5-ton limestone sculpture celebrating the Church of St. Mary’s 100th anniversary in 1991.
📍 Church of St. Mary, 301 N. 4th St., Oregon, IL 61061

17) The Kneeling Soldier
By Jeff Adams
A moving tribute to Ogle County’s fallen military members, this bronze sculpture was dedicated on Veterans Day 2015 and stands on the north lawn of the Ogle County Courthouse Square.
📍 Ogle County Courthouse, intersection of Route 64 and 4th St. | Oregon, IL 61061

18) Paths of Conviction, Footsteps of Fate
By Jeff Adams
Abraham Lincoln and Black Hawk are memorialized in a decisive bronze moment. Black Hawk is shown holding onto a rock, gently clutching a piece of buffalo robe, symbolizing the losses he endured. Lincoln’s likeness, based on historic photographs, reflects his deep commitment to preserving the Union.
📍 Mix Park, 701 S. 4th St., Oregon, IL 61061

19) Come to the Wilderness | PRIVATE PROPERTY*
By Jeff Adams
A 2008 sculpture of John the Baptist gesturing toward the spiritual journey into nature. With Adams’s signature craftsmanship and emotional depth, the piece invites spiritual contemplation in the quiet of nature.
📍 Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center (LOMC), south of Oregon, IL
*NOTE: This is located on private property. Please respect these spaces and obtain permission before visiting or viewing the works in person.

Why It Matters

The Oregon Sculpture Trail isn’t just a walk through public art — it’s a walk through time, legacy, and community. From the visionary work of Lorado Taft to the citizen-driven CAL project, these sculptures tell stories of who we are, what we value, and how deeply art can be rooted in place.

Whether you explore the trail in one afternoon or over several visits, one thing is sure: Oregon, Illinois has sculpted something truly special — and it’s waiting for you to discover it.

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