Black Hawk Statue — Attraction in Rockvale Township

We were married at the bottom of the statue on September 19th 1981 by the Reverend Rose Jones and her Assistant. It was just Jill and I and our best friends as Best Man and Bridesmaid. We sat on the wall after the ceremony and drank 3 bottles of Asti Spumante before heading into Byron to the old High School which was then a restaurant and had supper and our friends bought us another bottle of wine. We didn’t have much money when we ran off and got married there so years later to Celebrate our Anniversary we stayed at Maxon Manor and I took my wife shopping for a Beautiful New Golden Sparkly Gown with matching Shoes from a different store and matching Socks over Black Nylons and matching hand made Pink Turmaline necklace with a large bezel set stone and matching earrings. While dancing on the dance floor that night after a Spectacular dinner she had the large stone in the necklace fall out so someone found a nice start for a necklace. We danced a lot that night and in my mind She Was The Most Beautiful Woman On The Dance floor. When we went bat to our hotel room we made Love All Night Long. It was a time for us to Have A Honeymoon that we Couldn’t Have when first starting out and I’m as much in love with this Girl now Woman as I’ve Ever Been. I guess you could say it was a public Holiday as we were getting married a crowd developed who were just coming to see the statue and we could hear them whispering SHHH! Their Getting Married and by the time the ceremony was over and I Got To Kiss My New Bride the Whole Crowd Started Clapping For Us. It Was The Greatest Day...

The Black Hawk statue should be seen in person to properly appreciate this 1911 monument. It is quite impressive and huge at slightly over 50 feet tall. I was surprised that a famous sculptor such as Lorado Taft used concrete for a statue. This technique was likely the most efficient method for creating a statue this large in size. As a result it is easily visible from the other side of the Rock River Valley. At night there are lights around the base of the statue. Taft’s name for this statue is “The Eternal Indian” as his tribute to Native Americans. Another local name is the Rock River Colossus. Popular opinion has changed the common name to Black Hawk. However Taft had used a Euroamerican friend wrapped in a blanket Indian style as the model for the statue instead of the portrait of Black Hawk in McKenney and Hall’s History of the Indian Tribes of North America. Currently the statue restoration efforts that began in 2013 have hit a funding snag. In 2015 Landmarks Illinois listed this statue as one of the most endangered sites...

Lowden State Park. Oregon IL. Beautiful park for day play, hiking, camping, and beautiful scenery. Every fall growing up our mother took us to collect acorns, play, and enjoy the many beautiful colors of the trees. Many fond memories and whenever back in Illinois we try to get to see Blackhawk and his majestic figure gracing the forest and the Rock river. Illinois Parks & Recreation District need to finish the restoration of Blackhawk!!! He is a huge landmark for Illinois and it's a disgrace Illinois State politicians do not get this Magestic Blackhawk Statue restored immediately!!! Sad to hear waiting on donations...