Art, History, and Community Commitment
All restoration photos by Jenny Smith
A Sculpture with a Story
Few works of art carry the weight of history like The Passing of the Buffalo. Created in 1929 by renowned sculptor Cyrus E. Dallin, the bronze statue captures a poignant moment. A Native American chief in full regalia, bow in hand, reflects on the end of the buffalo and a way of life.
This masterpiece made headlines in 1975 when it sold for $150,000 at a Sotheby Parke Bernet auction, setting a record for an American sculpture. Purchased by the family of Fred J. Petty in his honor, the statue was donated to the City of Muncie in 1976 and was first placed at Walnut and Charles Streets in front of the Ball Stores department store. When the store was demolished in 1999, the statue moved to Minnetrista Museum and Gardens before returning downtown in 2007 to its current home on the original boulder in the Walnut Street roundabout, anchoring the south end of downtown.
For decades, The Passing of the Buffalo has stood as a symbol of resilience and artistry. It’s a piece of history that belongs to all of us.
Bold Vision Then
In 1999, Frances Petty Sargent recognized that preserving this treasure would require more than admiration; it would require action. She established the Passing of the Buffalo Fund at The Community Foundation to ensure the statue’s care for generations to come.
With only $31,000 in donor investment, through growth and the power of endowment, the fund has provided more than $36,000 for maintenance and restoration, proving the lasting impact of designated funds. This foresight reminds us that philanthropy doesn’t just respond to today’s needs; it safeguards tomorrow’s heritage.
Bold Vision Now
Nearly a century after its creation, the statue needed expert care. In 2023, Community Enhancement Projects (CEP) initiated a restoration plan, and earlier this year, conservators cleaned the statue and boulder, applied a protective patina, and refreshed its plaque.
This work was funded through a grant from The Community Foundation, drawing on the Passing of the Buffalo Fund and the Public Art Pass-Through Fund. These efforts reflect a growing commitment to public art as a catalyst for community pride and revitalization. Support comes from many partners, including Ball Brothers Foundation, whose 2025 grants seeded new funds to sustain public art for generations to come.
“This restoration was about more than preserving bronze. It was about honoring a piece of Muncie’s cultural identity,” said CEP Board President Malcolm Cairns. “Public art has the ability to tell a story and keeping it vibrant ensures that future generations can connect with that story.”
Join Us in Preserving Public Art
In just over 40 years of grantmaking, The Community Foundation has awarded more than $6 million in grants supporting arts and culture. Today, you can help ensure that public art remains a vibrant part of our community.
Your gift to the Public Art Fund will sustain treasures like The Passing of the Buffalo and create opportunities for new works that inspire and connect us.