Pioneer Monument

The Pioneer Monument is a granite monument supporting bronze figures and bas reliefs created by Frank Happersberger and financed by the estate of James Lick. It is located on Fulton Street between Hyde and Larkin Streets in the Civic Center, of San Francisco, California. It was dedicated on November 29, 1894.DescriptionThe monument consists of a large female figure of Minerva or Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, representing California on a column with four bronze reliefs representing "Crossing the Sierra," "Vaqueros Lassoing a Bull, "Trapper Trading Skins with Indians," and "California's Progress under American Rule", as well as portrait medallions of important personages in California's past, Sir Francis Drake, John Sutter, John Fremont, Father Junipero Serra, and the monument's benefactor, James Lick.There are also four piers surrounding the base of the column, supporting sculptures. Two are female figures allegorically representing Commerce and Plenty, and two are groupings of three figures each. One of these is titled "Early Days" and contains a missionary, a Native American, and a vaquero. The other is titled "In '49'", commemorating the California Gold Rush, containing three gold miners.