The Western Heritage Collection

The Western Heritage Collection. . , These figures were sculpted in the hope that they will prompt young people to read about America's frontier and our fascinating Western Heritage. , The frontier was as much an attitude as a place. As settlers pushed the wilderness further and further west of the Allegheny Mountains, attitudes of self-reliance and economic opportunity became an American ideal that has continued for generations. To comprehend American behavior and thought even to this day, you must understand the depth of this "westering experience." , Prior to the teachings of Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893, historians generally believed that Americans were primarily shaped by bad experiences with Europe's feudal political, religious, and economic system. Certainly, American rejection of Europe's institutions shaped the intent of our constitutional laws. , But Americans developed a character beyond our nation's legal structure, unique to the rest of the world. Turner suggested that the frontier experience and unlimited individual opportunity accounted for much of America's uniqueness. Why are Americans so different in attitude from their cousins that were left behind? Possibly the answer lies in how the frontier focused a person's mind. , Stories about our Western Heritage are fascinating. How long could the average mountain man survive in the wild? Why did the Indians name some U.S. infantry units "Buffalo Soldiers"? How fast did the frontier shift westward to the Pacific Ocean? This is fascinating reading; so different from memorizing dates and the names of presidents. History can be fun when it includes anecdotes about everyday life and personal experiences. It is to this end that I created and dedicate this Western Heritage collection. , Most of the trees used in the collection are Englemann Spruce, native to Colorado's high country. Many were living at the time of our Declaration of Independence. Some trees, such as used for the Indian and Eagle sculpture, were growing when Columbus sailed from Spain. Each figure was hand sculpted, requiring up to six hundred or more hours to complete. Every sculpture in the collection is an opportunity to reflect on one aspect of our western heritage. The sculptures and the information researched were largely a labor of love. I hope they will inspire people to study America’s past and determine for themselves who we are, and what is possible when we put our minds and bodies to the task of building the future. , Is “who we are” simply about the values of personal responsibility, sacrifice, and economic and constitutional freedom? Or is it also about facing past mistakes and not repeating them?