Charles R. Ford announced the unveiling of a painting of the historic Santa Fe Trail, as part of a series of paintings commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. The painting is by nationally- renowned artist Wayne Cooper of Depew, Oklahoma, and was unveiled during a ceremony in the Senate Chamber this afternoon.

“The Santa Fe Trail is known to be oldest and longest commercial highway across the Great Plains. It extends from the Missouri River just east of present day Kansas City, crossing nearly 800 miles southwest on its way to Santa Fe, New Mexico,” said Ford.

The Cimarron Route was the road to Santa Fe for wagon traffic beginning in 1822 and was shorter and easier to travel with mule and ox drawn freight wagons. The trail was used into the 1870’s when the railroad was built in Colorado. It truly served as a major commercial highway during it’s time.

The painting is a gift from Mrs. Mollie Williford, who is a Tulsa Philanthropist and business woman. She is actively involved within the community and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa as well as the Eastern Oklahoma March of Dimes.

“It is a great privilege to still have the opportunity and the means to keep dedicating great artwork at the State Capitol. It is important to ensure that our Capitol building is not only a place to make laws, but also a place that can tell the history of our state through art,” said Charles Ford, who recently left office in the Oklahoma State Senate due to term limits.

This and other art commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. can be found on the Internet at: www.oksenate.gov.

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