Dallas' Pioneer Plaza: Taking a walk where Longhorns ran
You’re driving or walking at the bottom of a canyon of skyscrapers in downtown Dallas looking at the hustle and bustle of modern business when over a ridge you see cattle being driven by some cowboys. It’s not a mirage, it’s the world’s largest bronze monument of its kind – Pioneer Plaza. The plaza is the second most visited landmark in downtown Dallas - second to Dealey Plaza - where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
The four acre plaza bounded by Dallas City Hall, Dallas Convention Center, Pioneer Cemetery and Young Street is a great place to stop, rest and take photos of the waterfall and the beautiful bronze cattle drive. The cattle are actually situated on what was once the Shawnee Trail. Beginning in the 1840’s, millions of cattle driven on the Shawnee Trail that passed through many towns south of Dallas right through what is now downtown on their way north to Chicago and beyond.
The lifelike 49 longhorns and 3 cowboys as well as the park are the work of Texas’ own Robert “Bob” Summers who amazingly had no formal art training. Summers even designed all the landscaping. An additional 30 sculptures are planned for the park.
Pioneer Plaza was dedicated in 1995 by the Dallas Trees Foundation with a grant from Dallas developer Trammel Crow and some other local philanthropists. The artist, Robert Summers still makes and sells exact duplicates of some of the statues. For just over $60,000 plus shipping and set up expenses, you can have an enduring souvenir of your trip to the Lone Star State.
HelloDallas tip: Many children and adults alike take pictures sitting on the longhorns even though you’re really not supposed to “ride” them. Watch out in the summer, though. The statues are metal and get really hot so it’s a good idea to wear long pants if you’re planning to take a stationary ride.
Posted by Constance Hannon
