A Historic Timeline
From the Columbian Exhibition to its permanent home in Denver, trace the journey of this iconic sculpture.
The "Buckaroo" Debut
1893Alexander Phimister Proctor debuts the original plaster model, titled "The Buckaroo," at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, gaining national attention.
Modeling with Controversy
Early 1900sProctor refines the model. His cowboy model, Bill "Slim" Ridings, is arrested for cattle rustling. Proctor famously posts his bail to finish the sculpture.
Gift to the City
1920Commissioned by Mayor Robert Speer's administration during the "City Beautiful" movement, the statue is gifted to Denver by philanthropist J.K. Mullen.
Civic Center Icon
TodayPaired with "On the War Trail," it remains a central fixture of Civic Center Park, representing the complexities of the American frontier.
The Lost-Wax Method
A 6,000-year-old technique used to create the fine details of the Bronco Buster.
From Clay to Bronze
1. The Dynamic Composition
Proctor's genius lies in the "suspended energy" of the piece. The horse's neck twists violently, counterbalancing the cowboy's sharp pull on the reins. This wasn't just imagination; Proctor attended rodeos and lived with western communities to study the anatomy of movement.
2. Cire Perdue (Lost Wax)
Unlike earlier sand-casting methods which were cheaper but cruder, this statue utilized the lost-wax method. A wax replica of the original clay model is encased in a heat-resistant mold. The wax is melted out, and molten bronze is poured into the void. This captures the artist's literal fingerprints from the clay.
3. The Patina
The final stage involved chemical applications and heat to create the "patina"—the surface color. Over the last century, Denver's weather has interacted with this bronze, requiring careful conservation to maintain the intended aesthetic against oxidation.
Alexander Phimister Proctor
Known as the "Sculptor in Buckskin," Proctor (1860–1950) was unique among his Beaux-Arts contemporaries. He didn't just observe the West; he lived it.
- ✦ Raised in Denver when it was still a frontier town (arrived 1871).
- ✦ Studied in Paris but returned to the Rockies to hunt and sketch.
- ✦ Often confused with Frederic Remington, though Proctor's work is considered by critics to be more anatomically precise.
"I am capturing the West that is passing."
A Legacy Set in Bronze
The Bronco Buster is more than metal; it is a time capsule of the 1920s "City Beautiful" movement. While it celebrates the grit of the American cowboy, modern viewers also reflect on the era it represents—a time of rapid expansion and changing landscapes. It stands today not just as art, but as a conversation starter about our history.
Location
Civic Center Park
W. 14th Ave & Bannock St
Material
Cast Bronze
Granite Pedestal
Year Dedicated
1920
Donor: J.K. Mullen