Johnny Carson was born in Iowa, and grew up in this house in Norfolk NE.Carson sculpture in downtown Norfolk.Wall mural in downtown NorfolkMock up of Johnny’s desk and guest’s seats.A great photo op.The opening monologue curtains.Young Johnny basketball playerNavy communications officer during World War IIStudent at the University of NebraskaStar of the show at NebraskaGained fame as a magicianThe most watched Tonight Show in history until his final show. Tiny Tim’s wedding with Miss Vicki.His characters were very entertaining.His most famous character, Carnac the Magnificent, who gave answers to questions he had never seen.Six Emmys for The Tonight Show.Johnny Carson was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. Bush.
The Columbus area was first visited by Europeans prior to 1720.Columbus CarillionThe bells in the Carillion came from old churches in the area.The 561 was built in 1904 and was in service until 1955.Antique fire engine
Andrew Jackson Higgins, a Columbus NE native, created the landing boat that helped win World War II. Columbus honors him with this park. His story:The landing boatThe sidewalk here contains disks from various locations and wars around the world. Below each disk is sand from that location.Omaha BeachUtah BeachGuadacanalGuamIwo JimaCasablancaOkinawa JapanInchon KoreaDanang VietnamCuba
This archway spans across I-80 in Kearney NE. The archway itself is a pretty good museum, chronicling the 49er, California, Utah and Mormon Trails movement of hundreds of thousands of Americans in the mid-19th century.While the 49er, California, Utah and Mormon Trails all traveled through Nebraska, little recognition has focused on those who stayed in Nebraska. These sculptures outside the Archway Museum personify those who stayed in Nebraska.Molly and JackAntonJosephEsterAnna (the mom) and ElizabethInside the museum, up these escalator steps you can walk through the history of the westward expansion through Nebraska.Wagons going westHarsh wintersFamily tragedyThe routes of the 4 trailsPony Express stationTranscontinental Railroad – the Union Pacific RailroadMark TwainCross country in the 20th centuryCamp sitesMid 20th century travel to national parks1950s dinerThis is pretty cool. A police radar set up over I-80 to show speeders. This one is going 80 mph.Nebraska Sand Hill Cranes
The timing for our trip to Nebraska was perfect to see the Sculpture Walk Across Nebraska, which showcases revolving art installations six cities across the state. We visited five of the six cities that participated. Each of the works list the artist, and the purchase price for those interested.
Ogallala NE
Sunrise Serenade, by Lee Luening & Sherri Treeby, $19,000Hey, Mary Lou, by Lee Luening & Sherri Treeby, $40,000Saturday’s Distraction, by Lee Luening & Sherri Treeby, $25,000The Feather, Kirk Seese, $10,000Windows to the Future, Gedion Nyanhongo, $14,400Regenerate, Tim Adams, $10,000Fenceline Turnaround, Lee Luening & Sherri Treeby, $17,500. This one had a significant amount of bird droppings on the farmer’s head, so I wiped it off before I took the picture!
North Platte NE
Maestro, Lee Luening, $35,000Running Girl, Harold Linke, $9,545Carmen Marimba, Lee Luening & Sherri Treeby, $22,500We Are One in Love, Gedion Nyanhongo, $34,000Aquaman, Shannon Sargent, $7,000Once Upon a Time, Sondra Jonson, $11,500
Grand Island NE
School’s Out, Lee Luening & Sherri Treeby, $28,000Circle of Trust, Hilde Debruyne, $14,500Shepherd, Lee Luening & Sherri Treeby, $30,000Escape, David Biehl, $4,500Outer Limits, Tim James & Aidan Demarais, $9,900Lyrical, Nathan Johansen, $5,900Meandering Connections, Ryan & James Pedersen, $18,500Iron Steed, Ryan & James Pedersen, $3,295Mantel, Steve Elliott, $3,500Inner Peace, Dale Compton, $6,000Magnify, Kirk Seese, $10,000
Madison NE
Vertical Draft, Jim & Ryan Pedersen, $2,695Farmer, Lawrence Stark, $20,000
Norfolk NE
Garden Fairy, Sondra Jonson, $8,900Saturday’s Distractions, Lee Leuning, $31,000Shapes in Harmony, Michelle Cubbison, $1,750The Sheaf, Paul Reimer, $20,000Spring Dancer, Sunday Mahaja, $9,000Ibis Family, Gedion Nyanhongo, $69,500 – this is the single most expensive piece we saw.The Proposal, Sunday Mahaja, $12,000Red, Reno Carollo, $8,000Aloft, Jim & Ryan Pedersen, $10,500Sisu, Mike Fluent, $8,750Be Kind, Joe & Terry Malesky, $19,500Channel, Brian Bickel, $12,500Short Stack, Andrew Libertone, $8,000Asteria, Tim Adams, $10,000
Columbus NE
Stand For the Flag, Lee Leuning & Sherri Treeby, $19,000Self Reflection, Albert Rhea, $9,500The Pollinator, Kirk Seese, $10,000Flushing Pheasant, Carl Weiss, not for saleTatanka, Carl Weiss, not for saleDystopia, Tim James & Aidan Demarais, $9,000Hunting Buddy, Joseph Krings, $1,250
