Lewis and Clark, Historic marble sculpture at Oregon State Capitol, Salem, United States.
Lewis and Clark is a white Vermont marble relief sculpture positioned at the Oregon State Capitol entrance, showing the two captains alongside Sacagawea. The reverse side features an engraved map tracing the full route of their historic expedition.
Leo Friedlander carved this high relief in 1934 from white Vermont marble, using a block assembled from six smaller pieces, for the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. It depicts Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on horseback led by Sacajawea, commemorating the 1804–1806 expedition. The Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey rated it well maintained in August 1993.
The reverse of the relief carries a map of the territory Lewis and Clark crossed, together with scenes of hunting and of meetings with Native Americans. The base bears the inscription "WESTWARD THE STAR OF EMPIRE TAKES ITS WAY", and Leo Friedlander's signature is cut into the lower left.
The relief faces the Capitol's main entrance and stands on a granite base about 1.3 m high, so the carved map on the back can be reached on foot from the surrounding walkway. Look for Friedlander's signature at the lower left and the inscription along the base.
The phrase "Westward the Star of Empire Takes Its Way" is carved across the granite base, not the sculpture's title; the work is officially the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804–1806 Memorial. Leo Friedlander's signature appears on the lower left. The marble block was assembled from six smaller pieces.
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