Soil to Riches
Statue
A bronze monument featuring a pioneer cowboy and his quarter horse in downtown Thermopolis, dedicated in 1999 to commemorate the town's first 100 years of history.
Symbolism and Design
Depiction
The statue features a pioneer cowboy standing beside his quarter horse. The cowboy is shown sifting dirt through his hands, symbolizing the diverse "riches" drawn from the local soil.
The Theme
Its full title/theme is "From this soil come the riches of the world". This refers to the regional foundations of farming, ranching, mining, minerals, and the discovery of prehistoric fossils in the area.
Artist
It was designed and created by sculptor Carl Jensen of Wheatland, Wyoming.
Physical Details
Weight
The cowboy figure weighs approximately 250–300 lbs, while the horse weighs between 1,500 and 2,000 lbs.
Cowboy Model
The cowboy was modeled after Allen "Butch" Schweighart, who led the effort to create the statue.
Horse Model
The horse was modeled after one of artist Carl Jensen's own favorite horses, lending authenticity to the sculpture.
Unique Features
Livestock Brands
The base of the monument is decorated with 138 livestock brands from local area ranches. These were etched into Corian tiles, with each brand owner contributing $100 to help fund the memorial.
Historical Accuracy
The horse bears the "88-bar" brand, an old territorial-era brand from southeast Wyoming, adding authentic historical detail to the monument.
Location
Address
531 Broadway St, Thermopolis, WY
Located near the intersection of Broadway and 6th Street in the downtown historic district
Visit the Memorial
Experience this tribute to Wyoming's pioneer heritage and the riches of the land in downtown Thermopolis.
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