Women in sculpture: Cheyenne, Wyoming

When you think of the terms “woman” and “sculpture,” what comes to mind? An anonymous nude, probably?

Not surprising, since according to a tidbit in the July Harper’s Index:

Number of public statues of individuals in the United States: 5,193

Number that depict women: 394

One of those 394 women of steel (marble, bronze, etc.) is Esther Hobart Morris, who stands proud in Cheyenne in front of the Wyoming capitol.

The base of the statue credits Ms. Morris as a driving force in Wyoming becoming the first jurisdiction in the world to grant women equal rights. However, a page from the Wyoming State archive explains that there is no proof of this claim.

But Morris DID serve as a justice of the peace in 1870 – the first woman (in Wyoming? In the U.S.?) to serve in a judicial position.

It’s pretty interesting how the independent pioneer/rancher ethos and traditions of patriarchy mix here in the West. There’s a sense that anyone is worthy of respect if he or she can prove his or her mettle. (Yet men are still listed as owners of the vast majority of farms and ranches. If I had more time, I would expand this point and find better stats than these.)

I wish Georgia Arbuckle Fix had a statue here in the Panhandle.

If you know of other statues of notable women, please post links in the comments.

Copyright 2011 by Katie Bradshaw