The Pioneers statue was created in 1936 and moved to B.F. Nelson Park in 2010
Next, staff will determine how to remove the artwork from the Minneapolis park system
On Dec. 3, 2025, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Commissioners voted to deaccession the Pioneers monument in B.F. Nelson Park from the MPRB public art collection.
“Deaccession” is a term used by organizations with art collections for officially removing an item from its listed holdings. This is the first time an artwork has been deaccessioned by the MPRB after it adopted a new Public Art Policy in 2025 that outlined guidelines for the process.
The decision to deaccession the Pioneers monument is the result of a lengthy, community-led process that included several public meetings and in-depth research studies. Organizations also voting in support of deaccession are the St. Anthony West Neighborhood Organization, St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board, and Public Art Advisory Panel of the Minneapolis Arts Commission, in addition to the recent votes from the MPRB Planning Committee, and full Board of MPRB Commissioners.
The MPRB has determined that this piece is no longer going to be part of the Minneapolis park system’s public art collection, which includes 60+ artworks. Now focus shifts to deciding what to do with the piece. Read the “Removal and Disposal” section of this news release for details on potential outcomes being investigated by MPRB staff.
Artwork History
In 1936 the City of Minneapolis and MPRB commissioned J.K. Daniels to create a sculpture for a new park (Pioneer Square/Gateway) to open at 5th Street S and Marquette Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis. John Pillsbury donated funds for the art commission, and it was dedicated on Nov. 13, 1936, when the park opened.
As part of urban renewal efforts in 1960s, the MPRB sold downtown Gateway parkland for city redevelopment. The St. Anthony Council (now St. Anthony West Neighborhood Organization, or STAWNO) requested that the sculpture move to Marshall Street NE and 5th Avenue NE, funded by the City’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
In 2010, it moved across Marshall Street NE to its current location at the entrance of B.F. Nelson Park, using funds from STAWNO, MPRB, and the City. The sculpture is owned by the MPRB.
The backside of the Pioneers monument in B.F. Nelson Park
Artwork Details
The monument is composed of Minnesota granite, weighs 14 tons, and stands 23 feet tall,13 feet wide and 4 feet deep, including the base and steps of concrete and mortar.
The top depicts three generations of pioneers – a man with a plow, a woman with a baby, and an older man with an axe and rifle. The word “PIONEERS” is inscribed on the front of the base.
The back has a relief carving that depicts the 1680 journey of Father Louis Hennepin, a Belgian missionary. Hennepin is holding up a cross, receiving a pipe from an unidentified Dakota man. They are surrounded by two men in pioneer dress with a gun, and three men in Native dress with a canoe.
Deaccession Rationale
The MPRB is amidst a long-term, ongoing effort called the Indigenous Action Plan. Its purpose is to integrate truth, recognition, and acknowledgement of Indigenous land, people, and nations into how the MPRB operates the park system. Listening to Native perspectives on park policies, procedures, and spaces, and taking action on their feedback is fundamental to this work.
While some may see the Pioneers Monument as a piece of art or a tribute to their ancestors, Native and non-Native community members repeatedly shared strong feedback that it is offensive to park users and retraumatizing to Indigenous people and people from diverse religious and faith backgrounds. Feedback indicated the mural on back depicts an incomplete and inaccurate representation of the history of the area and ignores the harmful impacts of colonization on Dakota and other Indigenous peoples.
A close-up of the relief carving on the back of the monument
Removal and Disposal
MPRB staff and community members have been evaluating options for removing the artwork from B.F. Nelson Park. Current and next steps include:
- Researching the artist’s family and next of kin for possible return
- Discussing relocation of all, or parts of the sculpture with local arts and community organizations
- Speaking with a local cultural association about possible philanthropic or community interest in acquiring the artwork
- Reaching out to a local granite quarry on possible reuse of the stone, including costs and manner of removal
- Figuring out costs and logistics of long-term storage for parts or all of the sculpture by the MPRB
- Exploring repurposing the granite base as seating elements in a newly naturalized landscape project along the riverfront
The updated MPRB Public Art Policy calls for removal and disposal to occur as soon as reasonably possible following deaccession. Please go to the MPRB Public Art page and sign up for email updates to stay informed on this project and other news about public art in Minneapolis Parks. Several studies related to the Pioneers project are also posted there.