The Beginning
The Planning Stage
It all started with a dream and soon turned into plans for construction of a 35-foot tall steel sculpture at the Cuba Visitor’s Center that celebrates the history and legacy of the Osage Nation. The project, which will be overseen by Cuba artist Glen Tutterrow, is now completed. “I had a dream of building something for the Osage Trail. We are here because of the trail that the Osage blazed for us way back when and I have always been very sensitive to the Native American culture”.
Execution
The sculpture depicts an Osage Indian family traveling westward along the Osage Trail. It features an Osage warrior in period-specific dress and historically accurate ornamentation, followed on the trail by his family. The Osage Tribe of Native Americans covered a wide range of territory in the American Midwest. Their hunting and warring expeditions spanned the entire Ozark Plateau region and included what would become the states of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
The Monument
The sculpture stands 35 feet tall, 20 feet wide, and 80 feet in length. The sculpture depicts an Osage family moving westward on the Osage Trail. The monument is designed to work with the contours of the site which includes working water features and native plant landscaping. The monument allows interstate drivers to see the sculpture from the city limit boundaries, both east and west. This is one of the largest sculptures ever dedicated, & erected, to the Osage Nation.
The Monument
This area was originally the Trail of the Osage. Today, we have designated it as Interstate 44. Previously, it was romanticized as Historic Highway 66 and before that, the Springfield Road, but it has always been the Trail of the Osage. At the dawn of this nation’s expansion this trail carried furs and lead ore to St. Louis and brought back food, clothing, and supplies from St. Louis to the rural areas of Southwest Missouri. But this trail carried more than merchandise, it also carried ideas and innovation. It carried the ideas that would form a young, energetic, and growing republic of the early 1800’s. The sculpture you see before you is a tribute to the Osage Legacy. The sculpture stands 35 feet tall, 20 feet wide, and 80 feet in length. The sculpture depicts an Osage family moving westward on the Osage Trail. The monument is designed to work with the contours of the site which includes working water features and native plant landscaping. The monument allows interstate drivers to see the sculpture from the city limit boundaries, both east and west. This is one of
The Designers and Sculptors
Glen Tutterrow
Curtis Tutterrow
The Monument is located in front of the Cuba Missouri Visitor Center
Latest news
Drone footage of the Osage Trail Legacy Monument
Check out this drone footage of the Osage Trail Legacy Monument! The Missouri Conservation Department is assisting in the landscaping development, incorporating native Missouri flowers and plants. This drone footage will help them to see the whole site at once.
The Final Piece of the Osage Project
On Monday, August 28, 2017, the final piece of the Osage Trail Legacy Project made its way from the artist’s home through the town of Cuba, Missouri to its place at the head of the monument site. The Osage Warrior, standing over 21 foot tall, can be seen from I-44. Other aesthetic matters, such as Read more about The Final Piece of the Osage Project[…]
The Little Girl and Wolf
The little girl and the wolf are now on their base at the Visitor Center in Cuba, Missouri!
Work Continues on the Osage Trail Legacy Project
Work continues on the Osage Trail Legacy Project! Here is the latest update.
Shon-ge Tun-kah – Wolf of the Osage Trail Legacy Monument Project
On December 23, 2015, Shon-ge Tun-kah was unveiled and moved to Visitor Center in Cuba, Missouri What started as one man’s dream to honor a nation is one step closer to becoming a reality. This video tells the first part of this amazing story. This is just the beginning of the Osage Trail Legacy Monument Read more about Shon-ge Tun-kah – Wolf of the Osage Trail Legacy Monument Project[…]
Progress is being made on monument
Here is an update video that shows the progress being made on the monument.
Osage Indian talk By Rob Viehman
10-22-15 Osage Indian talk By Rob Viehman Those working on the Osage Trail Legacy Project, which will feature a large-scale sculpture near the I-44 overpass, hosted a special presentation by well-known Osage Indian expert Jim Duncan at the Recklein Public Library last Friday night. Approximately 50 area residents were in attendance. Duncan is a native Read more about Osage Indian talk By Rob Viehman[…]
Jim Duncan came to Cuba, Missouri
10-17-15 On October 16th, renowned author and archeologist, Jim Duncan came to Cuba, Missouri to share his knowledge on the Osage Nation. There was a great turn out at the event, with many people bring artifacts for Mr. Duncan to see. “Every artifact that I looked at was authentic,” said Mr. Duncan, “That doesn’t happen Read more about Jim Duncan came to Cuba, Missouri[…]