Bountiful Prairie
About the Sculpture
Dedicated on October 14, 1975, the large sculpture depicting wheat, was donated in honor of the United States bicentennial celebration. Bountiful Prairie celebrates Nebraska and its rich agricultural heritage. The two artists, Kenneth Bell and Rex Applebee said the sculpture is a gift to the people of Lincoln. They donated their design while Banker's Life Nebraska contributed the $10,000 needed for construction. It was originally located at outside Gateway Mall, but was moved to Bison Park and then moved again to the intersection of Van Dorn and Coddington Avenue.
Inscription: "This sculpture, which depicts the agricultural heritage of the Cornhusker state, is presented to Gateway Shopping Center and the people of Nebraska by Banker's Life Nebraska in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the United States. October 14, 1975"
About the Artist
Rex Applebee (born between 1917-1922) and Kenneth Bell (born 1913) were both born in Kansas. Bell taught high school art before moving to Lincoln where he worked at Bankers Life Nebraska. Applebee taught welding in California where he accumulated 30 years of experience. In 1960 he came to Lincoln, where he worked at Woodmen Accident and Life.
The two also worked on a commission for the city of Wichita, "Prairie Transition".
Additional Information
The nearest park is Pioneers Park, but the actual location is the roundabout at W. Van Dorn & S Coddington Ave.
Length: 3 ft.
Width: 5 ft.
Height: 25 ft.
Materials: Cor-Ten steel
Location
S Coddington Ave., Lincoln 68522 View Map
40.784491, -96.749375
S Coddington Ave. ,
Lincoln 68522
S Coddington Ave. ,
Lincoln 68522
Bountiful Prairie