Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

by Jamie Hale | The Oregonian, OregonLive

You might know northeast Oregon for its mountains, canyons and lakes, but artists and locals know the area for bronze.



You could be excused if you didn't think much was going on in the region: Hidden away in the northeast corner of Oregon, tucked between the towering Wallowa Mountains and immensely deep Hells Canyon, the Wallowa Valley is anchored by twin small towns of Joseph (population 1,089) and Enterprise (population 1,916).



For much of the 20th century, the small agricultural communities transformed into timber towns, buoyed by the arrival of a railroad line from nearby La Grande. But when timber began to dwindle in the 1980s, it opened the door for an unexpected new industry: bronze.



Today, there is a major bronze foundry in Joseph, and two more in Enterprise. Artists, businesses and government agencies from around the world commission works from the remote corner of Oregon, but the real treat for tourists is seeing the bronze statues proudly displayed around town – and getting a peek at how they're all made.

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JOSEPH MONUMENTS

It's no secret that Joseph is proud of its bronze. Just take a stroll down Main St. and you can see more than a dozen monuments set up on the sidewalks, most paying respect to the town's history – for both the Nez Perce tribe and white settlers.



The two most popular monuments are a perfect illustration of the region's history straddling both native and white cultures: the towering "Chief Joseph" by Georgia Bunn, and the bucking horse and cowboy portrayed in "Attitude Adjustment" by Austin Barton – the two located just across the street from one another.



You can find more bronzes in the many local art galleries, as well as restaurants and businesses downtown, but the real fun is seeing how the bronze is made...

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A statue of Chief Joseph stands in downtown Joseph.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A bronze statue called "Garden Walk," of a woman among a bed of flowers, stands in downtown Joseph.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A bronze statue of a woman stands in front of the Joseph Center for Arts and Culture in downtown Joseph.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

VALLEY BRONZE

While in Joseph, it's definitely worth taking a tour of the Valley Bronze foundry. The lengthy and detailed tour walks groups through every step of the bronze casting process, going through the rooms where the foundry's employees work tirelessly on an endless stream of commissioned projects.



Among the most impressive is the work the foundry did for the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. The $2.5 million contract required 40 tons of bronze, used to make 56 enormous wreaths, 735 grates and a 12-foot base for a flag pole. The foundry also made 4,123 sterling silver stars plated with gold for the monument, which opened to the public in 2004.



Foundry tours are open to the public Monday through Saturday, at 11 a.m., and cost $15 per person. The tour lasts about an hour. Tours are also available at Parks Bronze and TW Bronze in Enterprise.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A tour group stands in front of finished bronze statues at the Valley Bronze foundry in Joseph. The statues will be installed as monuments to wildland firefighters.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A hot fire gets ready to melt bars of bronze in a casting furnace at the Valley Bronze foundry in Joseph.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Two men work behind a closed door at the Valley Bronze foundry in Joseph.

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More to do in Joseph

Want to tour Joseph right? Here are 20 reasons to love the northeast Oregon town.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

6 bonus waterfalls near Silver Falls: Silver Falls State Park gets all the attention, but here are six other stunning waterfalls nearby.

A beautiful hike to Ice Lake: The crown jewel of the Wallowa Mountains, Ice Lake is a backpacking trip, or day hike away.

Oregon Garden blooms brightly in summer: The Silverton attraction is gorgeous any season, but especially bright come summer.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB