Pioneer Selfies
Just off of the pedestrian-only section of 15th Avenue that runs directly through the University of Oregon stands a 13 foot tall statue of a pioneer man in mid stride. Tucked into some trees and blooming flowers, The Pioneer stands as a reminder of the arduous journey across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains of the United States that many people took to establish the West. Sculpted by Alexander Phimister Proctor out of bronze and financed by Portland lawyer Joseph Nathan Teal, The Pioneer was the first statue to be erected on the University of Oregon campus in 1919. The Pioneer was meant to represent the trailblazing spirit of the early settlers. With a rifle on his back, a buckskin coat, weathered cap, and bearded face The Pioneer stands proudly and courageously next to the bustling walking paths and street below him. Perhaps this can be interpreted as the college student's journey into adulthood through higher education. Though many obstacles lay in between the student ...
