Elk, Bronze sculpture in Portland, United States.
Elk is a bronze sculpture in Portland set upon a granite base with water fountains at street level that were historically used for horses. The work displays detailed anatomical features of the animal and functions as a public art installation downtown.
Roland Hinton Perry created this bronze sculpture in 1900 as part of a broader effort to commission public artworks that would enhance Portland's municipal landscape. These installations were part of an intentional strategy to shape the identity of the growing downtown area.
The sculpture references the wildlife that roamed Portland before urban growth, serving as a visual link to the region's natural past. It stands as a symbol of how the city acknowledges its connection to the animals that once lived here.
The sculpture sits at Southwest Main Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues in downtown Portland and serves as an easy-to-find landmark for pedestrians. The location is accessible on foot and commonly used as a reference point for people navigating or meeting in the area.
The water troughs at the sculpture's base were originally designed for horses when they were a common sight on Portland's downtown streets. These functional features remain visible today and offer a glimpse into how the city operated in the early 1900s.
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