Black Hawk Statue

The Black Hawk Statue is a concrete sculpture on a cliff in Lowden State Park depicting a Native American figure with crossed arms. It faces the Rock River Valley and dominates the landscape through its commanding height and setting.

Artist Lorado Taft and assistant John G. Prasuhn created the sculpture between 1909 and 1911 at the site of the former Eagle's Nest Art Colony. The work emerged during a period when public attitudes toward Native American history were beginning to shift.

The sculpture honors the Sauk leader Black Hawk and his place in regional memory. It serves as a visual connection between Native American history and the landscape where visitors stand today.

The best views are from Illinois Route 2, where parking areas provide open sight lines to the monument. Plan time to see it from multiple angles and take in the surrounding scenery around the park.

The sculpture was cast from reinforced concrete and weighs about 537,000 pounds, representing an engineering achievement of its era. This material allowed Taft to achieve monumental scale in ways that traditional stone carving could not have made possible.

Location: Illinois

Inception: 1911

Creator: Lorado Taft

Made from material: concrete

Website: http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r1/lowdensp.htm

GPS coordinates: 42.03420,-89.33327

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:28