Equestrian statue of Rafael Rivera
| Equestrian statue of Rafael Rivera | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Jim Casey |
Completion date | 1978[1] |
| Medium | fiberglass sculpture with bronze paint |
| Subject | Rafael Rivera |
| Location | |
The equestrian statue of Rafael Rivera is a public art sculpture in Las Vegas, Nevada. It honors Rafael Rivera, a Mexican scout and the first non-native to explore the Las Vegas Valley, in 1829.[2] The 11 feet (3.4 m) tall fiberglass statue was created by artist Jim Casey, and erected in 1978 along Boulder Highway, to advertise a theme park called Old Vegas in Henderson, Nevada.[3][4]
It was later relocated by the City of Las Vegas to the Rafael Rivera Park in Las Vegas.[1][3]
References
- 1 2 "Rafael Rivera, Artist: Jim Casey". Public Art Archive.
This copper paint coated fiberglass sculpture depicts Rafael Rivera. Rivera was a Mexican scout and the first non-native to set foot in Las Vegas Valley and the Las Vegas Spring in 1829. The available water lead to shortening the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles, California.
- ↑ Dymski, Gary (November 25, 2022). "Las Vegas: Name comes from image of valley during trading party's search for water in 1829". KLAS 8NewsNow.
- 1 2 "Statue of Rafael Rivera at the entrance of Old Vegas: photographic prints". Dennis McBride Photograph Collection, Special Collections and Archives. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 1978.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Statue of Rafael Rivera located at the entrance of Old Vegas, an amusement park located in Henderson, NV. (1978)
- ↑ "Old Vegas Fort Nears Completion". Henderson Home News. August 29, 1978. pp. 1–2.