The statue was originally proposed to be built at Holmes Peak in southeastern Osage County, located about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of downtown Tulsa and the highest point in the immediate region with an altitude of 1030 ft (314 m).
According to the proposal, The American, designed in the image of an American Indian brave with a bald eagle on his shoulder, will rise 60 ft (20 m) taller than the Statue of Liberty, and will be the largest bronze statue in the world with an interior observation deck.
Gray, who is Osage, and has built a career on large-scale sculptures of Oklahoman sports figures such as New York Yankees pitcher Allie "Superchief" Reynolds and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessels, conceived The American as an entry for a contest to design a statue for the dome of the Oklahoma State Capitol, which was added to the building in 2001.
Initially intended for the outskirts of Oklahoma City, the Tulsa location was selected after investor disinterest.
[7] The Wall Street Journal wrote about the project in August 2013 and noted the project would fit in with two existing large scale sculptures in Tulsa: the Praying Hands on the campus of Oral Roberts University and the Golden Driller at the Tulsa Expo Center.