'On Trail of Discovery' sculpture to be installed Monday

"On the Trail of Discovery," a life-size bronze outdoor sculpture honoring the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-06, is scheduled to be installed in downtown Lincoln on Monday, Sept. 20, beginning about 9:30 a.m.

The sculpture, by George Lundeen of Loveland, Colo., will be part of the Great Plains Art Collection at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and will be installed outside the collection at Hewit Place, 1155 Q St.

"On the Trail of Discovery" depicts Lewis and Clark with a Native American man and child and the expedition's dog, Seaman. Lewis is depicted in his military uniform crouching next to Seaman. Wearing his buckskins, Clark holds a map in his hands and stands next to the Native American man, who points to the map and directs the way. The Native American boy holds a 15-star U.S. flag.

Commissioned by Friends of the Center for Great Plains Studies, the sculpture was made possible by major gifts to the University of Nebraska Foundation from Bill and Betty Ruth Hewit of Englewood, Colo., and the Cliff and Mary Hillegass Trust. The friends group secured additional funding for the sculpture's base from the Abel Foundation of Lincoln.

In celebration of the new sculpture, the public is invited to a reception Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. at Hewit Place and the official unveiling event at 6 p.m.

CONTACT: Stacey Walsh, Registrar, Great Plains Art Collection, (402) 472-3208