The story behind the deer statues in downtown Columbus

The Columbus Dispatch
·1 min read
"Scioto Lounge" by Terry Allen. Photographed at COSI September 29, 2014.
"Scioto Lounge" by Terry Allen. Photographed at COSI September 29, 2014.

If you've ever been in downtown Columbus, you might have come across the deer statues along the Scioto Mile.

How did they come to be and why are they there? Here's what to know.

The city hoped that public art initiatives like this one would boost Columbus tourism. Previously, much of the city's public art was privately funded. The city hadn't sought artwork in so long that no one could remember the last project, the Dispatch reported in 2013. The Columbus Art Commission existed without purpose for decades before finally convening in 2007, beginning with a focus on Downtown and the Scioto River area.

Artist and country singer Terry Allen of Sante Fe, N.M., came up with an idea for sculptures to enhance the Scioto Mile: bronze, "humanized" deer.

The inspiration? The name "Scioto" comes from the Shawnee American Indian word for "hairy water," because the Shawnee Indians found deer hair floating in the river after migrating from the Carolinas.

Allen's human-like deer sculptures, entitled "Scioto Lounge," were funded by the Miranova Tax Increment Finance agreement, which devotes tax revenue from properties by the Scioto Mile to redeveloping the area. The Columbus City Council approved the $281,000 art contract in June 2013.

Here's a look at the deer statues:

A bronze buck overlooks the Scioto River from the Rich Street bridge in downtown Columbus on Oct. 6, 2015. The statue is part of Terry Allen's art installation in which several deer in human poses overlook downtown. Shawnee Indians named the river Scioto, meaning "hairy water," after finding deer hair floating in the river.
A bronze buck overlooks the Scioto River from the Rich Street bridge in downtown Columbus on Oct. 6, 2015. The statue is part of Terry Allen's art installation in which several deer in human poses overlook downtown. Shawnee Indians named the river Scioto, meaning "hairy water," after finding deer hair floating in the river.
"Scioto Lounge" by Terry Allen has a foggy view of downtown January 3, 2014.
"Scioto Lounge" by Terry Allen has a foggy view of downtown January 3, 2014.
A buck sculpture by Terry Allen overlooks the Scioto River and Columbus Skyline on the Rich Street Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017.
A buck sculpture by Terry Allen overlooks the Scioto River and Columbus Skyline on the Rich Street Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017.
"Scioto Lounge" by Terry Allen a artist with a show at the OSU Urban Arts Space. Photographed at COSI September 29, 2014.
"Scioto Lounge" by Terry Allen a artist with a show at the OSU Urban Arts Space. Photographed at COSI September 29, 2014.
The city takes on a foggy look as seen through the deer sculptures antler on the W. Rich. St. January 8, 2015.
The city takes on a foggy look as seen through the deer sculptures antler on the W. Rich. St. January 8, 2015.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The story behind the deer statues in downtown Columbus