The statue, located on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol, was designed by Alexander Phimister Proctor.

The statue was surveyed and considered "treatment needed" by the Smithsonian's "Save Outdoor Sculpture!"

program in April 1993, and was administered by the Facility Services department of the State of Oregon at that time.

[1] In 2013, an attempt was made to replace the statue at the United States Capitol with one of Mark Hatfield.

[2] The life-size statue depicts missionary Jason Lee standing and holding a book in his proper left hand.