A bronze and granite sculpture depicting a pioneer family is getting a second chance at public display after being removed from Portland during protests in 2020. The artwork, titled "The Promised Land," is now being restored by its original creators and will find a new permanent home in John Day, Oregon.
The sculpture was originally created by Eastern Oregon artists David and Lee Manuel and commissioned by the Oregon Trail Coordinating Council. It was donated to the City of Portland in 1993, where it remained on display for nearly three decades. According to the City of Portland's website, the monument was removed and placed in secure storage in 2020 following protests in downtown Portland.
After the City of Portland chose to deaccession the work in 2023, they accepted a disposition recommendation in 2025 to return the sculpture to its original creators, David and Lee Manuel. The Grant County Change Committee was able to secure the statue for the City of John Day to display, giving the artwork a new lease on life in a community that will appreciate its historical significance.
Grant County Change Committee Peer Leader Larry DeCew recently provided an update on the project during an appearance at KJDY Studios. He described the emotional moment when the sculpture was transported from Portland to the artists' home in Enterprise. "On the evening of October 15th, I got a couple of texts saying it was going to leave Portland the next day," DeCew explained. "So, my wife and I packed a bag and we intercepted it in Pendleton. A couple of our group members were with us, and we followed it to Enterprise."
The reunion between the artists and their work was particularly meaningful, as DeCew noted: "It was really a special moment – we had just met the Manuel family when the statue pulled into their driveway. David hadn't seen it for thirty-some years. It was really cool." This marked the first time artist David Manuel had seen his creation in over three decades since it was originally installed in Portland.
Upon inspecting the piece after its arrival in Enterprise, David and Lee Manuel expressed confidence that they would be able to successfully restore the sculpture to its original condition. The restoration process will serve an additional educational purpose, as the City of Portland reports that the artists plan to partner with Wallowa County students on a new skilled-trades program to restore the piece. This partnership will provide valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students while ensuring the artwork receives professional care.
The project represents more than just the relocation of a piece of public art – it symbolizes the preservation of Oregon's pioneer heritage and the importance of community collaboration in maintaining cultural artifacts. The sculpture's journey from Portland to John Day reflects changing attitudes toward historical monuments while demonstrating how communities can work together to find appropriate homes for significant artworks.
