text: the pioneer mother memorial the pioneer mother memorial , also known as pioneer mother and pioneer mothers , is a 1928 bronze sculpture by american artist avard fairbanks , installed at esther short park in vancouver , washington , in the united states . the memorial depicts a mother and three children , and commemorates pioneer mothers who settled in the pacific northwest . the main female figure may depict esther short , one of the first u.s. citizens to arrive in fort vancouver . commissioned by vancouver banker edward crawford and his wife ida for $ 10 , 000 , it is one of the city 's oldest works of public art , acquired in 1928 and unveiled in 1929 . the sculpture was renovated around the start of the 21st century and is maintained by the city of vancouver 's parks & recreation department . description the pioneer mother memorial is installed at esther short park 's north entrance , at the intersection of west 8th and daniel street ( between columbia and esther streets ) in vancouver , washington . the park commemorates the pioneer woman and her husband amos , who were among the first u.s. citizens to arrive in fort vancouver . some sources say the memorial sculpture commemorates esther short specifically , while also " [ typifying ] all the brave mothers of the frontier " who settled in the pacific northwest . some sources say the sculpture 's main female figure is short herself , per the dedication ceremony 's program . the sculpture was cast in florence , italy , where fairbanks was working on his guggenheim fellowship . the memorial features a full - length bronze figure depicting a mother and three children . the woman wears traditional pioneer clothing , including a long dress , shawl , and shoes . she stands , facing forward , and holds a flintlock rifle in her proper right hand . the woman 's opposite hand rests on the head of the taller of two girls at her proper left side . the taller girl holds the shorter one with her proper left hand , while the shorter girl faces the taller one and rests against the mother 's proper left knee . a young boy clings to the mother 's dress and leans against her rifle . the sculpture measures approximately 7 feet ( 2 . 1 m ) × 3 feet ( 0 . 91 m ) × 21 inches ( 53 cm ) and rests on a concrete and granite base that measures approximately 102 inches ( 2 . 6 m ) × 18 feet ( 5 . 5 m ) × 15 feet ( 4 . 6 m ) . behind the figure group is a concrete backdrop . its reverse side includes a bronze medallion with a bas - relief depicting a team of oxen pulling a covered wagon . the animals are led by a man , and an " anxious " woman and baby are in the wagon . a large barrel is attached to the wagon . the bottom of the medallion includes a relief of a cattle skull . the medallion has a diameter of approximately 36 inches ( 91 cm ) . the memorial includes several inscriptions . one by the woman 's foot reads , avard fairbanks / 1928 . the medallion has two inscriptions : one below the wagon displays a copyright symbol and reads , 1928 avard fairbanks , while another says , the / pioneer / mothers . on the concrete backdrop below the medallion is the signed inscription : erected in memory of / the pioneer mothers / the of / mr. & e. g. / 1928 . history the pioneer mother memorial is one of vancouver 's oldest works of public art ( the oldest , according to the clark county historical museum ) , acquired in 1928 and unveiled on july 21 , 1929 ( or september 7 , according to some sources ) . fairbanks attended the ceremony . the artist was commissioned to create the memorial by vancouver banker edward crawford and his wife ida , who donated $ 10 , 000 to its creation . the work was classified as needing treatment by the smithsonian institution 's " save outdoor sculpture ! " program in may 1995 . it was renovated as part of park improvement efforts around the start of the 21st century . the memorial is maintained by the city of vancouver 's parks & recreation department .