Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Salem Government #1 Continued: Oregon State Capitol Statuary Blocks & Inscriptions

…Continued from 1: Oregon State Capitol.

At the main entrance to the Oregon State Capitol are two statuary blocks by New York artist Leo Friedlander. They are among the largest sculpture groups in America.

IMG_3349 Statuary Block at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Eastern Statuary Block on September 4, 2006

The eastern sculpture depicts the Lewis and Clark party led by Sacajawea and carried the inscription, "Westward the star of empire takes its way."

IMG_3354 Statuary Block at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Western Statuary Block on September 4, 2006

The western sculpture represents a pioneer family en route to Oregon and carries the inscription "Valiant men have thrust out frontiers to the setting sun." Each sculpture has a depiction of a historic map of the western United States carved in relief on the reverse.

IMG_3352 Statuary Block at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Reverse Side of Eastern Statuary Block on September 4, 2006

The eastern sculpture depicts the time of Lewis & Clark's expedition, while the western one depicts the time of the Old Oregon Trail.

IMG_3353 Statuary Block at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Reverse Side of Western Statuary Block on September 4, 2006

Flanking the main entry doors of the capitol building are these two inscriptions, which are carved into the buildings marble exterior.

IMG_3350 Inscription at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Oregon State Capitol Inscription on September 4, 2006

A FREE STATE
IS FORMED AND MAINTAINED
BY THE VOLUNTARY UNION
OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE
JOINED TOGETHER
UNDER THE SAME BODY OF LAWS
FOR THE COMMON WELFARE
AND THE SHARING OF BENEFITS
JUSTLY APPORTIONED

IMG_3351 Inscription at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Oregon State Capitol Inscription on September 4, 2006

THE MIND OF MAN
KNOWS NO EMPLOYMENT
MORE WORTHY OF ITS POWERS
THAN THE QUEST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
IN HUMAN AFFAIRS
NO GOAL OF ITS LABOURS
THAT IS SUPERIOR TO
THE DISCOVERY OF THE GOOD
IN THE GUIDANCE OF LIFE

Continue to Rotunda

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