Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley was born and raised on Greenfield. He wrote about life in Hancock County through poems such as “little Orphan Annie” and “The Old Swimmin’ Hole.”

This piece depicts the words of a poetic refrain flowing one after another as they take on the shape of a human, eventually forming a man’s silhouette. James Whitcomb Riley is represented through his poetic words; small pieces of turquoise stone simulate his blue eyes.

Designers Jeff Laramore and David Jemerson Young of 2nd Globe, an Indianapolis–based artistic company, designed all 92 of the county sculptures featured on the outside of the Indiana State Museum. Their designs narrate the counties’ famous natives, historically significant events, or their cultural heritage, and were fabricated and installed by various Indiana sculptors, carvers, glassworkers, metal workers, and other artisans.