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. Bronze Elephant
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.
Life Size Sculpture Here's a look at the deer statues: