Totem Pole Park Virtual Cache
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A wonderful roadside attraction, not far from old Route 66 near Foyil, Oklahoma. I first visited this spot several years ago on a Route 66 trip, and while in the area on vacation, visited again. The artwork at this site is amazing.
Totem Pole Park was originally conceived and built by Ed Galloway. Ed Galloway gained national fame as one of America's premiere folk artists with his unique style of monumental sculpture.
Nathan Edward Galloway was born in 1880 in Missouri and developed his carving skills as a child, creating mother-of-pearl buttons and small wooden items. He gained much of his inspiration after enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1901 and serving in the Philippine Islands. It was there that he was introduced to the intricacies of Japanese and Far Eastern art. Many of the alligators and other tropical animals he saw and battled while in the Philippines were later prominent features of his work.
Returning to Missouri after his tour of duty, he created massive sculptures from tree trunks, incorporating human figures with fish and reptiles.
Galloway's unique style caught the eye of Sand Springs founder and philanthropist Charles Page in 1914. The discovery led to a long relationship between the two, beginning with Galloway's employment as a manual arts instructor at the Sand Springs Children's Home.
Over a span of 20 years, Galloway taught the boys how to build furniture, tools, wagons and a myriad of other items in the Home shops.
In 1937, Galloway moved his family to a small farm near Foyil and embarked on an ambitious three-dimensional Totem Pole, followed by other smaller poles.
He lived in the park, and worked on his totem poles 7 days a week for the next 25 years, until his death in 1962. He enjoyed showing his works of art to his neighbors, as well as tourists passing through on the local highways.
After his death, the poles deteriorated over the years, but thanks to some wonderful preservation work, they are once again looking good and welcoming visitors from both the local area and around the world. The park is now owned and operated by the Rogers County Historical Society. The Foyil Heritage Association assists with fund raising and yard maintenance, and the site is on the National Register of Historic Places.
To "find" this virtual cache, please Email me with the answers to the following questions. Please don't post your answer as part of your visit report, even if encrypted.
1: How long did it take to build the main totem pole?
2: How many characters are on the main pole?
3: What kind of characters ring the top of the main pole?
4: How many sides does the fiddle house have, and why did it get that name?? (If the fiddle house is open when you visit, definitely go inside. There are some fascinating exhibits inside.)
Enjoy your visit! If you have any personal memories of visiting this spot, please post them. I'd love to hear your stories.
Uncle AL from Sacramento
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