Created to draw attention to the Basque people and their impact on the United States, the National Monument to the Basque Sheepherder celebrates the history and legacy of the Basque community in Reno, Nevada. It does so in a way that enables connection for this community in the region and beyond.
Commemorating the story of Basque emigration to the United States
A Southwestern European ethnic group, the Basque people moved to various parts of the United States in the 19th century for economic and political reasons. They took jobs like shepherding and ranching that were readily available, becoming pillars of established communities while also forming new ones. A map shows Basque settlements across the United States, highlighting where Basques settled and where these communities continue to thrive.
Recognized as the center of Basque settlement throughout the American West, Reno was chosen as the location for a monument that was erected in 1989. The location itself is a rural setting where sheepherders at one time actually worked. Surrounded by a few trees and sagebrush, the isolation of the terrain is connected to the solitude and significance that the Basque community represents.
Intended to memorialize the Basque people, the abstract sculpture stands as if sculpted by the wind itself. Named “Solitude/Bakardade,” a marker mentions that the figure represents a solitary and strong man that serves as an eternal homage to the Basque sheepherder.
Money was donated by former sheepherders and their relatives, further highlighting how the monument was and is part of the Basque and Reno community. Also, it is possible to add a small plaque for the new donors and an “in memory of” plaque. These sorts of connections have ensured that the National Monument to the Basque Sheepherder will continue to resonate with the present and future communities in Reno and across the entire country.
Memorializing the Basque People
Intended to memorialize the Basque people, the National Monument to the Basque Sheepherder is connected to the past and future of the community on multiple levels, representing them in the sculpture but also showing the isolation and strength that defines them. This connection highlights what it can mean for a monument to both represent and become part of a community.
