Magazine Article Review: The Bicentennial Sculpture Project: A Nebraska Controversy

The Bicentennial Sculpture Project: A Nebraska Controversy by Gail DeBuse Potter, Nebraska History, Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, Nebraska, Spring, 2026 pp 14-27.

It has been 50 years since the Bicentennial Statue Garden was completed in Nebraska.  The statue garden is a series of statues placed at different rest areas along I80 across the state in Nebraska.  I have seen some of them, but have also missed some.  

The controversy stems from some people not approving of the design of the statues, or the themes and that all of the artists were from ojut of state.  A newspaper article announces there were "No Indians, no bison, no covered wagons."  The statues are more modern art and all abstract.  People were also worried about funding, but the projects were funded by donations and the committee formed to spear head the project.  It was proposed there be twelve statues, but the funding woud only allow for ten.  And when the got into the project the donations were a bit short, so the settled on eight statues.  Seven were unveiled on July 4, 1976:  "Arrival" Blue River eastbound, Paul Von Ringelheim; "Crossing the Plains" York westbound, Bradford Graves; "Erma's Desire" Grand Island eastbound, John Raimondi; "Nebraska Gateway" Brady westbound, Anthony Padovano; "Up/Over Ogallala westbound, Linda Howard; "Roadway Confluence" Sidney westbound, Hans Van de Bovenkamp; "Memorial to the American Bandshell" Platte River eastbound, Richard Field.  The exhibit "Nebraska Wind Sculpture" Kearney westbound was unveiled in September, George Baker.  Two statues were not completed, "Platte River Ribbon" Cozad eastbound Steve Urry and "Seed of Nebraska" Kimball eastbound, Jerry Rothman.

"Roadway Confluence" was damaged by wind beyond repair and taken down in 2011.  A virtual exhibit is available.

Book of Mormon Evidences: Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins

 Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins edited by Noel B. Reynolds, Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Provo, Utah 1997.

This is a very extensive review of Book of Mormon origin.  Some of the articles are very good and very convincing, especially those about characteristics in the text such as chiasmus and other Hebraic poetry forms.  While other chapters were not as impressive.  There are many different authors presented in this work.  There are articles about the translation process and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and the witnesses to the Book of Mormon.  Authors include: Noel Reynolds, Richard L. Bushman, Richard L. Anderson, Royal Skousen, Louis C. Miodgeley, Daniel C. Peterson, Melvin J. thorne, John W. Welch, John L. Hilton, James E. Smith, Donal W. Parry, John  Tvedtnes, Noel B. Reynolds, John L. Sorenson and William J. Hamblin.  In addition to chasmus and ancient writing techniques there is information about the translation and the witnesses, wordprint studies, Book of Mormon Parallelism, the journey across the Arabian Peninsula and warfare studies.  This book does take the idea that the Book of Mormon is a Mesoamerican Record, which I am not convinced of but think more likely in North America.  

Overall it is a very convincing argument for the Book of Mormon, however true testimony comes by way of the spirit and the book will help on draw closer to Jesus than any other book.  

Magazine Article Review: Documented: "Now there was blood in her eye." An 1879 Interview with Bright Eyes

 Documented: "Now there was blood in her eye."  An 1879 Interview with Bright Eyes, Nebraska History, Nebraska State Historiucal Society, Lincoln, Nebraska, Spring 2026, pp 2-5.

Ishtatheamba (Bright Eyes) or Susette La Flesche Tibbles was known as the interpreter for Chief Standing Bear who brought suit against General George Crook and was the first in which a Native American was declared a citizen.  Born in Bellevue in 1854, shortly before the Omaha abandoned the area for a reservation north of Omaha.  She was educated in the East and interpreted for the Ponca Chief as the Ponca and Omaha share the same language.  

The party was interviewed by a reported with the Chicago Inter Ocean and he conducted a followup interview with Bright eyes after the initial interview with the entire group.  Bright Eyes showed the wrongs done to Native Americans without mincing words.  She talked about how money allotments from the government for their land was not administered by the people, but by the government.  She help that it was better the money be kept together, but Native Americans needed some say in the money.  She also said that some agents abused this power for their own benefit.  The agents also censor mail sent to the Native Americans.  She contended soldiers were kept to fight Indians over problems they had created.  She also pointed out soldiers killed women and children, and not always in open battle.  She concluded that white people should treat Native Americans on an equal footing, that they be allowed to be citizens and farmers.  

Bright Eyes also wrote a forward for a book written by her husband about the Ponca story.  She wanted people to hear the Ponca story so they could intervene with regards to this injustice.  In this forward she saw that a central purpose of government was to protect people from the arbitrary use of power.  

Mormon Omaha History As Presented at Durham History Museum

 

Prarie Schooner

Grand encampment, 1846 Kanesville, Iowa

Kanesville

The History of Samuel Bak

 As told on the walls of the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center

Book Review: Between Earth and Sky

 Between Earth and Sky by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Thomas Locker, Harcourt Brace and Company, San Diego, 1996.

This is a book about special places that are sacred to Native people.  It concludes that you can find spiritual places in all directions, including inside yourself.  This book talks about the Serpent Hopewell mound in Ohio.  Many geographic locations such as Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Cliff Dwellings, The Saguaro desert with saguaros and ocotillos, The Great Smokey Mountains.

Many nice depictions of some very beautiful places and their meaning to Native Americans.

Fort Omaha in North Omaha

The Green, parade grounds

General George Crook Administrative Building

hospital