1902 statue of kneeling Lenape warrior (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

USA / Pennsylvania / Wyndmoor / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fifty yards up Rex Avenue – via a switchback up the hillside — is the path leading to the Indian statue. This kneeling Lenape warrior was sculpted in 1902 by John Massey Rhind. Commissioned by Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Henry, it is a tribute to the Lenape Indians who hunted and fished in the Wissahickon prior to the arrival of colonists. The dramatic 15-foot high sculpture, which is mistakenly believed to depict Chief Tedyuscung, the most famous member of the Lenape tribe, can also be viewed from Forbidden Drive across the creek if one stands just north of the path to the Rex Avenue Bridge. The white marble statue was designed to commemorate the passing of the native Lenape from the region. For this reason, the Indian depicted in the statue has his hand to his brow looking west in the direction of the departing tribe. Rhind was not concerned with accurate representation since he gave this East Coast forest Indian a Western Plains Indian war bonnet. The statue, which was hauled to the site by workhorses, is situated on Council Rock, the place where the ancient Lenape Indians are believed to have held their pow-wows.
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Coordinates:   40°4'5"N   75°13'13"W

Comments

  • The statute is nice, but the most frequent visitors to this indian are high school kids with kegs throwing enormous parties in the woods. However, they clean up after themselves so whatever
  • this is actually in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. Chester Hill (40°53'24"N 78°13'48"W)
  • sorry meant, chestnut hill section of Philadelphia Coordinates: 40.070° -75.202° http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_Hill,_Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania
This article was last modified 10 months ago