The Padre, a statue completed in 1908 by sculptor Arthur Putnam, stands in a grove of trees in Presidio Park. This was given to the San Diego Historical Society by the descendants of E.W. Scripps. It is one of the Putnam statues commissioned by E. W. Scripps to depict California history. He was to create a series of five bronze figures representing the different people who had played an important role in our history. The Indian statue was first, this second one represents the initial explorations, settlements and missions.