Back in 1888, art lovers on campus banded together to form what was then called the Haydon Art Club—named for British painter Benjamin Robert Haydon. Their ambition was to bring beauty, culture, and a bit of artistic chaos to the prairies of Nebraska. Over the years, the club morphed into the Nebraska Art Association, moving their ever-growing art collection from one university building to the next, almost like a traveling circus—though with less popcorn and a lot more oil paint. Finally, after decades of art roulette, a permanent home was built in 1963 with funding from siblings Mary and Adams Sheldon, visionaries who sadly didn’t live to see the doors swing open. Their gift combined to over $1.5 million, which may not buy you a single Banksy today, but back then? It was like winning the Mona Lisa lottery. That debut wasn’t just about the art, though. Renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi—whose works looked so futuristic, you half expect them to double as spaceship parts—crafted “Song of the Bird” for the grand hall, setting the tone for a museum that’s all about soaring imaginations. Inside, you’ll find over 12,000 artworks, with specialties in nineteenth- and twentieth-century American masterpieces. The collection includes everything from sweeping landscapes and dreamy still lifes to bold pop art, minimalism, and abstract expressionist pieces that can make you ponder the color blue for far longer than is probably healthy. But before you get too comfortable, let’s talk about the sculpture garden. More than thirty sculptures—some taller than your neighbor's unruly sunflower patch—dot the lawns outside, from legends like Claes Oldenburg and Richard Serra. Of course, not everyone was thrilled at first; there was that one memorable phone call from a visitor who thought the modern art looked like “junk” and demanded that director Norman Geske be catapulted straight out of Nebraska. Art: always stirring up the best kind of drama. And speaking of drama, thieves have visited this museum in ways even Hollywood would envy. In April 1965, Benjamin West’s painting “Golden Age” was stolen by a university student and had to be recovered by the FBI. Then, in a 1998 twist worthy of a slapstick comedy, a legendary bronze sculpture called “Man in the Open Air” vanished—apparently during the wild celebration after Nebraska’s Orange Bowl win. Fans may have run off with more than footballs that night, but the sculpture turned up a week later, probably once the culprit sobered up and realized carrying around a $500,000 bronze man is not the world’s best idea. The museum isn’t just about displaying gorgeous works; every year it hosts about twenty different exhibitions, with everything from hands-on kids’ workshops to lively lectures. The curators make sure that what happens in Lincoln doesn’t just stay in Lincoln—many exhibitions tour the nation, sharing a slice of Nebraska’s creative spark from coast to coast. It’s also a museum that keeps evolving. The name changed from Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery to Sheldon Museum of Art in 2008, right alongside its supporting organization. Since its opening, a handful of leaders—like Norman Geske, George Neubert, and today’s director Susan Longhenry—have left their mark, expanding collections and nurturing its role in the art world. As you gaze at the Sheldon’s gleaming facade, remember that it’s not just a container for art; it’s a piece of art itself, rooted in stories, talent, adventure, and the occasional wild football-fueled heist. If you listen closely, maybe you’ll even hear the rustle of a canvas, the mutter of a surprised security guard, or the echo of Noguchi’s sculpture singing with the wind. The Sheldon invites you in not just to look, but to wonder.
Stop 9 of 15
