The Black Hawk Statue was created by sculptor Lorado Taft in 1911 and is located in Lowden State Park, where stands 48 ft tall overlooking the Rock River.  Taft created the 48 foot tall figure which weighs 536,770 pounds, with the help of John Prasuhn, a German sculptor who had experience working with concrete, the medium Taft proposed to use.  It is said to be the second largest concrete monolithic statue in the world.  On December 20 1910, workmen began pouring the concrete.  Pouring continued night and day for 10 days with up to 28 men working on the project.  It was then left until spring to set.  The body of the statue is hollow but the head contains the ends of 24 steel rods and is cast in solid concrete.  Although the statue is called Black Hawk, it does not represent any one man.  It is a tribute to all Native Americans, especially those who lived along the Rock River.

In 2011 the community of Oregon commemorates the 100th anniversary of one of their most cherished work of art, the Black Hawk Statue and they will celebrate the centennial anniversary of the building of the Black Hawk Statue with their Oregon Trail Days Festival held July 15 – 17, 2011 at Lowden State Park.  This exciting event will feature Native American dancing, a Wild West Cowboy show with roping and gun tricks, Tipi camping, covered wagon rides, children's activities, food vendors and merchants selling Native American and Cowboy art.  A Saturday evening Outdoor Saloon and Eatery will feature country music and a Tribute to Johnny Cash featuring entertainer, Terry Lee Goffee.  Sunday includes an 8K Run-a-muck with rafting on the Rock River and a Lions Club canoe rally.  There will even be a chance to go inside the Black Hawk Statue (only open during the once a year festival) with the small fee going toward the statue's restoration. For additional information please visit www.oregontraildays.org