Landmark

Louisiana Purchase Exposition

Lawrie’s early South Dakota figure for the Colonnade of States at the St. Louis World’s Fair.

Archive article

Louisiana Purchase Exposition

St. Louis · 1904

At the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, the Colonnade of States represented the states formed from the territory acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. Lee Lawrie’s early commission for the programme was South Dakota.

The fair gave Lawrie an important early public platform, placing his work among the monumental state personifications made for the exposition.

South Dakota by Lee Lawrie at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition

L. O. Lawrie has chosen an aboriginal type for his “South Dakota.” The head hardly seems worthy of the superb body, which is one of the most sculpturesque conceptions among these personifications of the states. Mr. Lawrie has stalwart qualities of mind which, coupled with much skill of the hand, give guarantee of an exceptional career.
Lorado Taft, Sculptors of the World’s Fair: A Chapter of Appreciations, Brush and Pencil, December 1903

St. Louis · 1904

The Colonnade of States

Open the Colonnade of States document

Colonnade of States, west arms, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis · 1904 — Colonnade of States, west arms, Louisiana Purchase Exposition

South Dakota by Lee Lawrie, archival photograph, St. Louis · 1904 — South Dakota by Lee Lawrie, archival photograph

South Dakota by L. O. Lawrie, from the Taft article, St. Louis · 1904 — South Dakota by L. O. Lawrie, from the Taft article

South Dakota, St. Louis · 1904 — South Dakota

Horse Group by L. O. Lawrie, from the Taft article, St. Louis · 1904 — Horse Group by L. O. Lawrie, from the Taft article

Inspiration by L. O. Lawrie, newspaper clipping, St. Louis · 1904 — Inspiration by L. O. Lawrie, newspaper clipping