PALM 00014

Hamilton, Edward

Boone, Forest

York

2003

Metal

Bronze

Sculptor Ed Hamilton's imposing sculpture of York, a slave who participated in Lewis and Clark's historic expedition, looks out over the Ohio River from its location on Louisville's waterfront Belvedere. The statue was commissioned in honor of the Falls of the Ohio Bicentennial Celebration of Lewis and Clark's expedition and was dedicated on October 14, 2003, exactly 200 years after the day Lewis and Clark met in Louisville prior to beginning their trip down the Ohio River.

York (c. 1772 — c 1832) was the slave and childhood companion of explorer William Clark and contributed materially to the expedition with his tracking and hunting skills as well as with manual labor. Although he participated as a full member of the expedition and was involved in decision making, he did not receive payment or land for his services like other members of the expedition did and was not granted his freedom until many years after the expedition's return. Through his participation in the expedition, York became the first African American to cross the United States from coast to coast.

Ed Hamilton is a nationally acclaimed sculptor whose other works include the Amistad Memorial in New Haven, Connecticut; the African—American Civil War Memorial in Washington, D.C; the Louisville Waterfront Park Lincoln Memorial and the Joe Louis Memorial in Detroit, Michigan. (KG)