Centennial Land Run Monument
4.8(918)google
4.8(27)yelp
HistorySculpture
Overview
The Centennial Land Run Monument, located at the south end of the Bricktown Canal, is one of the world's largest and most ambitious bronze sculpture installations, commemorating the frantic Land Run of 1889. Created by renowned artist Paul Moore, this stunning outdoor display features 45 heroic-sized bronze figures, including pioneers on speeding horses, covered wagons, and frantic livestock, capturing a chaotic moment frozen in time. Stretching over 365 feet, the meticulous realism of each individual piece conveys the raw desperation, hope, and determination of the early settlers who rushed to claim unassigned land. Walking through this massive art installation offers an unforgettable, visceral encounter with American history.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeBest viewed from 3:30 PM to 5:35 PM during spring or autumn. This sweeping monument stretches along the south canal, featuring 45 massive bronze statues of pioneers racing on horses. The angled afternoon sunlight brings the expressions and flying wagons to life with incredible depth.
Getting ThereNestled at the southern terminus of the Bricktown Canal walks at 200 Centennial Ave. Drivers can park at the adjacent Bass Pro Shops surface lots for easy access. Via transit, ride the OKC Streetcar to the Bricktown station and enjoy a scenic 8-minute walk southward along the canal path.
Travel Tips
- This monumental bronze sculpture assembly runs unfenced along the southern canal open-space; entry costs nothing, but persistent heavy rains liquefy the framing clay soils, making stepping inside the gravel perimeter or climbing the artifacts a criminal property property offense.
- Target the open curbside spaces directly at 200 Centennial Avenue for limited free parking; never block the adjacent private commercial shipping bays or U-Haul fleet loops, as heavy-duty industrial wreckers operate 24/7 with a $350 extraction fee.
Photo Tips
Best LightCapturing the true aesthetic depth of the 45 dynamic bronze figures requires a late afternoon itinerary from 16:30 until sunset; early lateral light accents the muscular definition of the stampeding horses, avoiding flattened mid-day exposures.
Reviews
Positive
- A massive bronze monument of 47 life-sized rushing horses and pioneers capturing the 1889 Land Run. The visual drama and artisanal details are mind-blowing.
- Stretching along the southern tip of the Bricktown canal, it features clean, accessible gravel pathways and rich historical multi-language text plaques.
- As an open public art landscape along the canal, it retains a beautiful wide sky backdrop free from commercial traps, keeping a dignified ambiance.
- Entirely free to access with zero admission ticket required. You can walk right up to touch the intricate textures of bronzes, offering extreme cultural value.
Heads up
- The historic Land Run celebrated here carries colonial controversy; some critics find the text plaques lacking deep reflection on Native displacement.
- Located at the furthest dead-end of the canal, it requires a long walk from core dining strips. The area feels deserted, and there is no adjacent lot.
- Completely open to the elements, there are no suncanopies, benches, trash bins, or water stations, making long stays tough under summer sun or winter winds.
- The lighting gets quite dim after dark. Being slightly isolated and lacking active security staff, visiting alone at night lowers the sense of safety.