Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

For Immediate Release: April 16, 2003


Artist Wayne Cooper and Sen. Nancy Riley with painting of
S.W. Woodhouse at Lost City

Painting of “S.W. Woodhouse at Lost City” Dedicated

Senator Charles Ford announced the dedication of another original painting commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund Inc. The painting, entitled “S.W. Woodhouse at Lost City,” was created by acknowledged national painter Wayne Cooper of Depew, OK, and was unveiled during a ceremony in the Senate Chamber Wednesday afternoon.

“Samuel Washington Woodhouse, surgeon-naturalist, accompanied the 1849-50 Creek Indian Boundary survey. His work in the Indian Territory was one of the first comprehensive natural history studies made of the area,” explained Senator Ford, President of the Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc.

The painting is a gift of State Senator Nancy Riley and the citizens of Sand Springs, OK. On September 15, 1849 Woodhouse and his survey crew camped on the Arkansas River west of Tallassee. Woodhouse kept an extensive diary and entered a sketch describing the weathered limestone formation known historically as “Lost City”, which reaches 50 feet in thickness on the south side of the Arkansas River, near present day Sand Springs.

“I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to help captivate Oklahoma’s history through art,” stated Senator Riley. “This painting perfectly depicts the area during the time of S.W. Woodhouse and I would like to thank Senator Ford for his efforts as well as the artist Wayne Cooper.”

This and other art commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. can be found on the Internet at: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/senate/welcome.html.

For more information, contact:
Senate Communications Division - (405) 521-5774