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.
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