Pioneer Plaza commemorates Dallas' beginnings by celebrating the trails that brought settlers to the city. It features native plants and trees, a flowing stream, and a re-creation of a cattle drive in bronze with longhorn steers being driven by cowboys on horses.
The bronze art pieces at Pioneer Plaza were created by artist Robert Summers of Glen Rose, Texas. The sculptures were cast at the Eagle Bronze Foundry in Lander, Wyoming.
Pioneer Plaza's depiction of a cattle drive featuring three cowboys and a herd of forty longhorn steer in monumental scale has made it a popular tourist attraction. The Plaza is situated on a 4.2-acre site and features a waterfall, man-made cliffs, native plant life, and small historic details on the sculptures.
Pioneer Plaza was funded with $4.8 million in private funds raised from individuals and local businesses. The design of the Plaza began in 1992, with site work starting later that same year. The Plaza is a work in progress, with additional steer being added as needed to complete the herd.
Black cowboys have been part of Texas history since the early nineteenth century, working on ranches throughout the state. Many were born into slavery but later found a better life on the open range. After the Civil War, some black cowboys became rodeo performers, federal peace officers, or even owned their own farms and ranches.
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