"Equestrian" at El Paso International Airport

This bronze sculpture is called "Equestrian" and represents the Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate. It was dedicated on April 21, 2007. It was sculptured by John Sherrill Houser and by his associate sculptor Ethan Taliesin Houser. With 35-foot and 11-tons the statue is the world's largest bronze horseman. Oñate is celebrated as the founder of the first European settlement west of the Mississippi and celebrator of the first American Thanksgiving in 1598 on the Rio Grande. Today, he is remembered for savageries that some scholars dispute. This is why the unveiling of the monument was met with admirers as well as protestors. Especially members of the Acoma Tribe, which is near Gallup, N.M., opposed it. They said Oñate committed many atrocities on Native Americans.

Area: Eastside / El Paso Int'l Airport

Source: Leo Miletich

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History