Mar 5, 2025 - News

A new, permanent statue of York is in the works

Meira Gebel

Two people wearing masks observe and point at a large monument of York, an African American member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, set in a wooded area. The pedestal has a plaque and visible graffiti. — The exact location of where a new statue of York will go is still being determined. Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images

A new, permanent monument of York — an enslaved Black man who accompanied Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their journey West — is currently being commissioned by the city.

The latest: The exact location of where the statue will be displayed, and when, is still being determined, according to Darion Jones, assistant director for the Office of Arts & Culture.

"We will be doing community engagement over the next year or so and hope to have the community let us know where they want York to go," he said, adding that North Portland, NW York Street and Mount Tabor are some locations being considered.

Catch up quick: Shortly after a statue of longtime Oregonian editor Harvey W. Scott atop Mount Tabor was toppled in 2020, a guerrilla art-style, 4-foot bust of York appeared in its place.

Residents quickly welcomed it.
The sculpture was damaged and vandalized in the summer of 2021, leading Portland Parks and Recreation to remove it.
Todd McGrain later identified himself as the artist. He plans to finish the new bust by the end of this year, Jones told Axios.

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A new, permanent statue of York is in the works

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