Sunset from hotel in Plano, Texas, March 11, 2011

Great Blue Heron, Arkansas River, below Dardanelle Lock & Dam, Arkansas, May 10, 2007

Hiking Park Avenue Trail, Arches National Park, Utah, September 27, 2011

Art on Sunday #7

Unveiled in 2006, On the Trail of Discovery features five life-sized bronze figures: Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, a generic Indian man and girl, and Clark’s big explorer dog Seaman.  Located on the front lawn of the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society in Paducah, Kentucky, the sculptures were donated by Bill and Meredith Schroeder, founders of the Museum.

Meriwether Lewis  and Seaman

William Clark

According to the sculptor, George Lundeen, who designed these figures, the Native Americans shown here represent all Native Americans who helped Lewis and Clark during their journey. He purposely placed few decorations or designs on their clothing because he did not want to identify them with any particular Native American group. The man wears a “peace medal” with the likeness on it of President Thomas Jefferson. Peace medals were presented by the Co-Captains to the Native American chiefs they met along the way. If you look carefully, you will also find a “coin” similar to the Sacagawea dollar. The Sacagawea dollar was not created until 2000, but the image provides a reminder that Sacagawea, a Native American woman, traveled from Montana to the Pacific Ocean and back with the Expedition assisting the expedition in many ways. The child holds an American flag similar to ones that would have been carried by the expedition. (Sue Henry Photography)

Native American child with expedition’s 1803 flag

Native American man

Sunflower, Mille Lacs Lake, Father Hennepin State Park, Minnesota, September 9, 2013

Dianthus (Pink) flower; Garvan Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs, Arkansas, April 13, 2010

Dianthus (Wikipedia)

Dianthus is a genus of about 300 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native mainly to Europe and Asia, with a few species extending south to north Africa, and one species (D. repens) in arctic North America. Common names include carnation (D. caryophyllus), pink (D. plumarius and related species) and sweet william (D. barbatus).

Trail marker cairn, Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, September 26, 2011

Galley, Aircraft Carrier, USS Yorktown (CV-10), Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, June 13, 2012

Butterfly Magnolia Blossom, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, March 13, 2011