The City of Fort Pierre has approved a resolution to accept the gifts of two sculptures that will be unveiled July 3.
During her final report as mayor during last week’s (June 15, 2026) city council meeting, Gloria Hanson said the Historic Sculpture Committee has discussed final details with the artists.
Fort Pierre City Attorney Aaron Schiebe said the town has done something like this in the recent past.
The buffalo sculpture “Dupree” by John Lopez will be placed at the corner of Island Drive and Highway 14 in Fort Pierre and the “Water Carrying Woman” fountain by Matthew Lanz will be placed at the east end of Hustan Avenue, near the Lt. Cmdr. John C. Waldron Memorial Bridge plaza.
Background information:
The Fort Pierre Historic Sculptures Committee will unveil its first two sculptures at 1 p.m. CDT on Friday, July 3, 2026, near the city’s new Waldron Bridge Plaza, celebrating the area’s rich history.
The public is invited to the ceremony at Drifters Event Center next to the plaza in Fort Pierre, with each unveiling at the statue’s site just steps away immediately following. The statues will be larger than life-sized and placed within the newly landscaped area west of the bridge on Tatanka Trail:
- Dupree the American Bison created by artist John Lopez and funded by several donors, to be installed at the corner of Island Drive and Highway 14; and
- Water Carrying Woman created by artist Matthew Lanz and donated by Leroy and Charlene Foster and Scott and Julia Jones, to be installed at the east end of Hustan Avenue near the Waldron Bridge Plaza.
The bison named Dupree is a tribute to the herd started by Frederick Dupris (also known as Dupuis and Dupree) and Mary Ann (Good Elk Woman) Dupris from the Cheyenne River area. The couple was concerned about the extinction of the bison and so they assembled a few orphan calves to raise and preserve a bison herd.
By the time Frederick died in 1898, the herd had expanded and was purchased by rancher James (Scotty) Philip who continued to expand the herd. The state of South Dakota purchased several head for what is now Custer State Park. Philip also sold bison to other parks and states, sharing the historic Dupree and Philip bison throughout the country. Dupree family members from all directions will participate in the July 3 unveiling celebration.
The Water Carrying Woman statue helps tell this Lakota woman’s story and the sacred tie between humans and earth’s life-giving water. She will be portrayed holding a bison bladder vessel above her head from which water flows. Her statue with flowing water will stand in view of the vast Missouri River waters.
The sculptures project ties to the Tatanka Trail, funded by a $1.87 million federal grant, inviting visitors to the west side of the new Missouri River bridge connecting Fort Pierre and Pierre. The first part of the trail is a new pedestrian bridge connecting recreational trails on both sides of the river.
The Fort Pierre Sculpture Committee is part of Future Fort Pierre, a 501 (c) 3 organization aimed at improving the city of Fort Pierre. Future statue information is at FortPierreSculptures.com.
Courtesy image.
Courtesy image.
Courtesy image.
Comments