Wyuka Cemetery’s Pershing Mural Committee announced today a $250,000 donation from Lincoln’s Harbor of Dreams Foundation to match donations as the fundraising campaign for the reinstallation of the Pershing Mural at Wyuka Park begins in earnest.
“To say we are excited is an understatement,” says Liz Shea-McCoy, committee member and organizer of the Mural project. “This generous donation will kick-start the fundraising for the reinstallation of the Mural by doubling, dollar for dollar, donations made to the project.” The match will apply to the first $250,000 in donations to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation for the project, whether given during this year’s ‘Give to Lincoln’ event or at any time directly to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation.
Earlier this year, Wyuka Cemetery announced it had agreed to have the Mural reinstalled on its grounds. Wyuka’s Board of Trustees established the Pershing Mural Committee to coordinate the restoration and reinstallation of the 763,000-piece Mural, which was saved from destruction in 2022 through the efforts of Shea-McCoy and others.
Since the mid-1950s, the iconic structure greeted Nebraskans at athletic and cultural events at Pershing Auditorium. “We’ve learned the artwork is a ‘memory cache’ for thousands of Nebraskans,” says Shea-McCoy. “Thousands of donors have memories of concerts or special events they attended, and thousands more are fascinated by the vast span of the Mural and the interesting artistic elements contained thereon. We are so pleased the Harbor of Dreams Foundation is helping us preserve the Mural by matching gifts for the restoration of the Mural and its reinstallation in its new, naturally-elegant home at Wyuka.”
A special viewing opportunity of the proposed lakeshore site at Wyuka Park is available during the highly popular Memorial Day events at the cemetery. During daylight hours, May 25-29, Wyuka visitors can see the proposed site outlined with white-flagged stakes. Volunteers with information will be on-site at Wyuka for questions and information.
Wyuka Trustees Chair, Faye Osborn, said, “Once you see the flagged footprint on the lakeshore, you are struck by the beauty of the site, the scale of the Mural and the natural framework of the Park’s topography. When reinstalled, close to eye-level, the Mural will be a showstopping artwork for interpretative viewing.”
The Committee has updated the timeline for the project. Planning for Wyuka’s lake and lakeshore refurbishment, which must be completed before the reinstallation of the Mural, is 95% complete. Wyuka will seek bids on the Lake project when the refurbishment plan is completed and approved, with completion anticipated by spring 2024. Greg Osborn, Wyuka’s Facility Director said, “The wait for the final plan review is agonizing, but we are like a coiled spring, ready to seek bids with the approved plan and then start construction as we move into the traditionally dry season.”
The match will automatically be applied to donations to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation through the ‘Give to Lincoln Day’ website: https://www.givetolincoln.com, or through the Foundation’s website: https://www.nshsf.org/.