Why Are There Big Buffalo Statues in the Middle of This Western Kentucky City?

When I was a kid, I never understood why people would say, "You can't see the forest for the trees." But I was too young for nuance or reading between the lines, so I was like, "Why can't you see the forest if you can see the trees?"

Of course, we all know that that old saying refers to being so deeply focused on the particular that you can't see the broader picture. Over time, I've adapted it to apply to something that's so obvious to me but might not be obvious or even known to someone else.

Owensboro Buffaloes

This line of thinking came up recently when I was chatting with someone not from my hometown of Owensboro KY He wanted to know why we have statues of buffalo in the middle of town. I take them for granted, but they've been there for 13 years, meaning some people who have lived here for more than a decade still might not know why they're there.

Why Are There Buffalo Statues in Owensboro?

Funded by former Owensboro mayor Ron Payne and his wife Denise, the statues were commissioned and erected on the property of the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art to represent the fact that Frederica Street was once, quite literally, where the buffalo roamed. The "Buffalo Road" or trail led William Smeathers, otherwise known as Bill Smothers, to present-day Owensboro from Rough Creek in Ohio County. (We now know that creek as "Rough River.")

Owensboro's Bronze Statues

This historical marker also indicates the buffalo regarded this area as somewhat of a "retreat." Alongside the "Meadowlands Pair," as the two statues are collectively titled, is one called "Strength of the Maker."

Together, the trio forms the centerpiece of Ryan Sculpture Park.

The man who posed the question was very impressed at the placement of these statues as a clever and informative way to incorporate some of the city's history into our daily lives. I never thought of it that way, but considering where they're located, I totally agree.