The Smoke Signal - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

The Smoke Signal has been a Lincoln Landmark for over 70 years. In 1934, Ellis Burman, an Omaha sculptor received funding from the Works Progress Administration Program to create a sculpture for Lincoln's new Pioneer Park. Working in an unheated vacant building at the state fairgrounds he formed a 15 foot clay model of a Native American, pulling a blanket away from a fire, to produce a smoke signal. A mold was made and reassembled at the park site. Cement was poured into the mold and was colored with red oxide to give it a bronze color. The completed sculpture weighs 5 tons.

The sculpture is a memorial for Nebraska Native American tribes. Its dedication in 1935 was attended by over 100 native Americans, including chiefs from the Omaha, Winnebago, Sioux, and Ponca Tribes, who in full dress sat on their horses atop the hillside facing the setting sun.

Burman created several other Lincoln Sculptures and then went to California where he became a very successful Hollywood special effects sculptor.

The "Lincoln Cares" program has restoration of the statue as one of its current projects.

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: The Smoke Signal Figure Type: Human Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Ellis Burman Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1935 Materials used: Poured Cement Location: Pioneer Park

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/26/2022 bobfrapples8 visited it 09/28/2015 HuntinTrea$ure visited it 09/13/2014 thndrstrck visited it 12/04/2012 bjmccacher visited it

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