Phase 1 of the sculpture design process began in late spring of 2004.

Jerry Monteith, sculpture professor in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s School of Art and Design was asked to work with graduate students from SIUC’s sculpture program to develop ideas for a sculpture to commemorate the mapping of the confluence by Lewis & Clark in November 1803.

The students participated in a summer class and developed a proposal that was reviewed by the Sculpture Design Review Committee in late summer of 2004.

The plan was very well received and approved by the committee. It was planned that the design would be put in place at the site of the confluence in 1803.

Delays were caused by the inability to determine ownership of the property. Because of these delays the initial design plans had to be scrapped which led to Phase 2 of the sculpture design by graduate student Evertt Beidler.