End of the Trail, Bronze sculpture at National Cowboy Hall of Fame, United States
End of the Trail is a bronze sculpture by James Earle Fraser depicting a forward-leaning Native American rider on his horse. The piece measures roughly 17 feet (5.2 meters) tall and 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide, weighing several tons.
Fraser worked on the first plaster version in 1894 after growing up in Dakota Territory during the 1880s. The first bronze casting came in 1918, and in 1929 a copy was permanently installed in Waupun.
The piece shows a weary rider and his horse marking the end of long forced journeys. This image became a symbol of the experience faced by indigenous peoples during westward expansion.
The sculpture sits in an open plaza where visitors can view it from all sides. The heavy piece remains accessible year-round and is mounted to withstand weather.
Fraser used real horses and living models for his early studies before settling on the final design. The Waupun version ranks among the few bronze casts made directly from the original molds.
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