"Great White Buffalo"

A Kansas Portrait

The sculpture of "The Great White Buffalo, " pictured above right, resides on the grounds of the Kansas History Center and Museum in Topeka. It was created by the artistic talents of Lumen Martin Winter, who grew up near Larned and whose other works include the completion of the Kansas State Capitol murals in 1976.

Taking almost two years to complete, the sculpture is made of eight tons of white Ravaccione marble from Italy where it was made. Lumen Winter's design was chosen from more than 50 entries and it expresses his love of Kansas. Unfortunately, he never saw it completed. He died suddenly in the spring of 1982 and his son William, working from the designs of his father, saw the statue to its completion. The statue was dedicated October 18, 1983.

It portrays a buffalo and a Native American living in harmony. The man is not attempting to harm the buffalo, but rather merely signals his presence by touching the blunt end of his spear to the buffalo's back. It is this spirit of universal harmony, peace, and love between man and nature that existed with our settlers and that Lumen Winter shares with us through his sculpture.