Peace Circle Unveiling

On Saturday, September 18, the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau will unveil the Peace Circle public art installation, an interpretation of the meeting of Republic of Texas President Sam Houston and 10 American Indian chiefs/captains on the Grape Vine Prairie in 1843. Sam Houston and the tribal leaders met in a spirit of friendship, peace, hope and trust in an effort to establish a place — a line that would not be crossed — where the tribes could live in peace. The Peace Circle meeting later lead to the signing of the Treaty of Bird’s Fort on September 29, 1843.

The installation features 11 bronze statues standing 1.25 times life-size, representing Republic of Texas President Sam Houston and American Indian chiefs/ captains from the Delaware, Chickasaw, Waco, Tawakoni, Keechi, Caddo, Anadarko, Ioni, Biloxi and Cherokee nations.

Dedication ceremony will be from approximately 1–2pm with festivities from 2–5pm during the 35th annual GrapeFest – A Texas Wine Experience, presented by Bank of the West.

The City of Grapevine commissioned Grapevine artist-in-residence Linda Lewis to recreate the moment of this historic meeting on the Grape Vine Prairie. Lewis, along with members of the Peace Circle Advisory Committee, thoroughly researched Sam Houston and the American Indian representations to ensure their accuracy. The statue of Sam Houston depicts him as he was dressed in that final meeting – wearing his velvet, fox-embroidered suit, his silver spurs and an Indian blanket thrown over his shoulders.

Each chief’s physical attributes and the finest details of their 1843 clothing were developed from consulting tribal members, studying photographs, paintings and/or relatives to ensure that the representations are accurate to each tribe. This information has been approved by the tribal nations they represent. The installation will be placed near the intersection of Main Street and Dallas Road in Historic Downtown Grapevine.

The art installation dedication will consist of representatives from the tribal nations, the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and members of the advisory committee. Though the Comanches were invited but did not attend the original Peace Circle meeting on the Grape Vine Prairie, they will be attending the Peace Circle unveiling ceremony.

Some of the dedication events will include Comanche drum music led by June Sovo, Comanche Nation; Sia Eagle display and presentation by co-founder Bill Volker, Comanche Nation; the “Wyandotte Thanksgiving Address,” the words before all else, shared by Sallie Cotter Andrews, Wyandotte Nation; a Smoke Ceremony and Blessing by Eddie Sandoval, Apache Nation; presentation of the American, Texas and tribal flags with a Comanche flag song and more.

Click here to see videos of Peace Circle in process from artist Linda Lewis, Grapevine Foundry.