CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Capitol Avenue Bronze Project plans to install eight statues in downtown Cheyenne on Thursday, July 21, just days before the city welcomes thousands of visitors for Frontier Days.
The 8 a.m. installation will include four historic figures and four representations of wild and marine life, a news release states.
“As Cheyenne welcomes tens of thousands of visitors from around the world this week, I am full of pride that these installations will happen before Frontier Days,” Mayor Patrick Collins said. “In less than a year, the face of the Capital City of the Old West is being transformed because of the generosity of the people of this great city. Having these eight statues installed before Frontier Days will further highlight Cheyenne as one of the most exciting places on the Front Range.”
Nathaniel Trelease, the chairman of the Capital Avenue Bronze Project, said donor generosity has surpassed the group’s most optimistic hopes.
“We now have commitments for more than 50 statues. Every year, tens of thousands of people walking up Capitol Avenue or through downtown will learn about the heritage of the city and state and the honor of its people,” he said.
The public is invited to attend the following unveilings Thursday:
- “Justice Willis Van Devanter” by Joel Turner at Capitol Avenue between 24th and 22nd streets in front of the Supreme Court building. Donation by daughters of the late William H. Vines, esq. — Kimberly, Hillary, Jennifer and Stephanie.
- “Esther Hobart Morris” by Joel Turner at Capitol Avenue between 24th and 22nd streets in front of the Supreme Court building. Donation by Jim Collins.
- “Native Girl” by George Lundeen at the northeast corner of Capitol Avenue and 22nd Street. Donation by Alice’s Lakeside Legacy.
- “Comparing Time” by Joey Bainer at the northwest corner of Capitol Avenue and 15th Street. Donation by Jim Ehernberger.
- “A Friend in Need” by Robin Laws at the northeast corner of Pioneer Avenue and 17th Street. Donation by Bob Born.
- “High Yield” by Joshua Tobey at the northeast corner of Carey Avenue and 17th Street. Donation by Sam Galeotos.
- “Guardian” by Robin Laws at the northwest corner of Carey Avenue and 17th Street. Donation by Marietta Dineen.
- “River Motion” by Tim Cherry at the southeast corner of Carey Avenue and 17th Street. Donation by Alicia Brown.
“We’re especially excited that the project has spread beyond Capitol Avenue throughout downtown, onto 17th Street and Carey Avenue, too,” said Harvey Deselms, the curator of the project. “We recently received shipment of pedestal material after a three-month delay and hope to accelerate our installations in the coming months. A party will be announced soon!”
For more information on the project or how to donate a bronze, contact Deselms at deselmsart@aol.com or Trelease at nathanieltrelease@gmail.com or visit www.CapitolAvenueBronze.org.
