Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Colorado Denver "The Yearling"
AO Edited

"The Yearling"

A Rocky Mountain city provides a happy ending for a pinto pony and his Brobdingnagian red chair.

Denver, Colorado

Added By
Sydney Rose
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Horse on giant red chair, Denver, Colorado.   Scott McLeod
“The Yearling”   "The Yearling" by bonjourpeewee is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
  IgFan / Atlas Obscura User
“The Yearling”   "horsie on a chair" by ozmafan is licensed under CC BY 2.0
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Eugene Kim
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The northwest lawn of the Denver Public Library in Denver, Colorado, is home to a whimsical piece of public art by Donald Lipski. Although not created for Denver, it's one of the city's most beloved sculptures. Entitled "The Yearling," the piece features an enormous red chair with a pinto pony standing on its seat as if left behind by a giant toddler.

In 1993, the sculpture was commissioned to stand outside a Washington Heights elementary school in New York City. However, the school district asked Lipski to remove the horse. He refused, asserting that doing so would take away the magic of the piece. Lipski intended to create something appealing to a child's sense of scale and wonder. 

After its completion, the sculpture was placed in storage while the city looked for an alternate display location. Ownership of the piece finally reverted to Lipski in exchange for him creating another art installation. In 1997, "The Yearling" was placed on temporary display at the Doris Freedman Plaza of New York's Central Park. While there, it was seen and purchased by Nancy Tieken as a gift for the City of Denver. It was moved there and permanently installed outside the children's wing of the public library in 1998.

The red chair is fabricated from steel and measures 21-feet tall and 10-feet wide. Nicknamed "Scout," the pony is six feet tall, from hooves to ears. He was made from painted fiberglass.

Unfortunately, the harsh Denver ultraviolet rays caused the horse's finish to fade and it required annual repainting. A mold was made of the original pony and the figure was recast in more durable, permanent bronze. The fiberglass pony was moved to Denver mayor John Hickenlooper's office. He became so attached to the horse that it moved with him to his new office when he became Colorado governor in 2011.  

Although an eastern transplant, "The Yearling" is adored by its second hometown of over 20 years. Voted "favorite sculpture," it was featured on the covers of the Denver Telephone Directory and a regional street atlas. It was even the subject of a question on the television quiz show Jeopardy!  

Related Tags

Sculptures Art History & Culture

Community Contributors

Added By

Sydney Rose

Edited By

Collector of Experiences, IgFan, theannemeadows

  • Collector of Experiences
  • IgFan
  • theannemeadows

Published

May 6, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
"The Yearling"
32 W 14th Ave
Denver, Colorado, 80202
United States
39.737852, -104.98841
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Clyfford Still Museum

Denver, Colorado

miles away

History Colorado Center

Denver, Colorado

miles away

Mile-High Steps at the Colorado State Capitol

Denver, Colorado

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Denver

Denver

Colorado

Places 45
Stories 12

Nearby Places

Clyfford Still Museum

Denver, Colorado

miles away

History Colorado Center

Denver, Colorado

miles away

Mile-High Steps at the Colorado State Capitol

Denver, Colorado

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Denver

Denver

Colorado

Places 45
Stories 12

Related Places

  • Waiting for Poe

    Westford, Massachusetts

    'Waiting for Poe'

    This sculpture memorializes the town's connection to the famous horror author Edgar Allan Poe.

  • Dama Ibérica

    Valencia, Spain

    Dama Ibérica

    This sculpture in Valencia features 22,000 tiny, obsidian blue figures that pay homage to the Lady of Elche.

  • Biggest Jar in the World

    Guellala, Tunisia

    Biggest Jar in the World

    This jar honors the role that pottery has played in this Tunisian village over the past millennia.

  • America, America is a modernist sculpture by artist Barbara Neijna found along Tampa’s Riverwalk.

    Tampa, Florida

    'America, America'

    This sculpture is one of many stunning features along Tampa’s Riverwalk.

  • Easterhouse Phoenix

    Glasgow, Scotland

    Easterhouse Phoenix

    This remarkable sculpture symbolizes the regeneration in this Glasgow suburb.

  • 'Save Iraqi Culture'

    Baghdad, Iraq

    'Save Iraqi Culture'

    A surreal monument depicting a five-armed giant supporting a toppling cylinder seal.

  • The statue, ‘Gzim och den frusna sjön’ (‘Gzim and the Frozen Lake’),  capturing the moment the boy learned he would be deported.

    Skellefteå, Sweden

    'Gzim och den frusna sjön' ('Gzim and the Frozen Lake')

    A sculpture capturing the emotional moment when a refugee boy realizes he is about to be deported.

  • Shadows Travelling on the Sea of the Day

    Qatar

    'Shadows Travelling on the Sea of the Day'

    An art installation that will challenge your understanding of reality and perception.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.