{"nrhp_refnum":"97000449","name":"Lewis, Meriwether and William Clark, Sculpture","other_names":["Their First View of the Pacific"],"category":"object","location":{"address":"Jct. of Ridge and W. Main Sts., and McIntire Rd.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Charlottesville (Independent City)","county":"Charlottesville","state":"VA","lat":38.030600940000056,"lon":-78.48258860199996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1997-05-16","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Art"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A bronze sculpture group of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacagawea on a carved pink granite pedestal, about 18 feet tall, set in a small landscaped circle at the intersection of Ridge Street, West Main Street and McIntire Road in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was erected in 1919 and designed by sculptor Charles Keck.","why_significant":"The work is considered significant under Criterion C at the state level as an important art object exhibiting the figurative style of outdoor sculpture by members of the National Sculpture Society, whose origins are tied to the City Beautiful movement. It was the first of four sculptures donated by philanthropist Paul Goodloe McIntire. It retains its historic integrity.","narrative":"Standing in a small landscaped circle near Charlottesville's downtown mall, this 18-foot bronze and granite monument depicts Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacagawea at the moment of looking toward the western ocean. Sculptor Charles Keck designed both the figures and the pink granite pedestal. The bronze was cast in Brooklyn and the pedestal was executed by a Washington firm. Low reliefs around the base show a buffalo hunt, a council with Native peoples, an Indian dance and the homecoming of Sacagawea. Erected in 1919, it was the first of four sculptures given by philanthropist Paul Goodloe McIntire to Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. Keck was a prominent member of the National Sculpture Society whose figurative work reflected the late City Beautiful movement. The monument is recognized for its artistic merit and for keeping its original location, design, setting and materials. Its circle is a remnant of the once-larger Midway Park.","period_of_significance":"1919-1924","architect_builder":"Keck, Charles","architectural_style":null,"criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Retains historic integrity; over 76 years of exposure have left a green patina on the bronze that has streaked and discolored the granite pedestal.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:51:59.780292-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/21/6786/41678621/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_VA/97000449.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/97000449/9c966d11bb-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/97000449/9c966d11bb-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nashpaul","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lewis_%26_Clark.jpeg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nashpaul</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lewis_%26_Clark.jpeg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"82004904","name":"Charlottesville and Albemarle County Courthouse Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/virginia/charlottesville-and-albemarle-county-courthouse-historic-district-82004904/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/41678621","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis_and_William_Clark_(sculpture)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15253129"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/virginia/charlottesville/lewis-meriwether-and-william-clark-sculpture-97000449/"}