[NFBN-Announce] Touch History, Experience Art – Celebrate Blind Equality Achievement Month at the Nebraska History Museum

[NFB of Nebraska]

Touch History, Experience Art – Celebrate Blind Equality Achievement Month at the Nebraska History Museum





The Pershing Mural – Nebraska’s largest ceramic mosaic, now preserved and reimagined through a 3-D tactile model.


You Are Invited


Celebrate Blind Equality Achievement Month


Join us for an inspiring celebration of accessibility, creativity, and collaboration within Nebraska’s blind community!


Event Details


Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Times: Noon – 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Nebraska History Museum
131 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, NE 68508


Program Overview


The presentation will feature:

*	Araceli Hernandez, Director, Nebraska History Museum
*	Liz Shea-McCoy, Chair, Pershing Mural Historic Preservation Committee
*	Barbara Loos, President, American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
*	Jamie Richey, President, National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska
*	Carlos Servan, Executive Director, Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
*	John Olson, Co-Founder, 3D Photoworks

This engaging event offers the public an opportunity to learn about the creation of the 3-D tactile model of the Pershing Mural, a groundbreaking project that makes Nebraska’s cultural art accessible to all.

The October 21 presentations highlight how art, technology, and community partnership come together to create inclusive experiences for everyone.

The National Endowment for the Arts reminds us:

“Not every mind or body will experience art the same way. But every mind and body are entitled to the experience.”


Watch on Pure Nebraska (CBS 10/11 Lincoln)


An interview about the Pershing Mural featuring Araceli Hernandez, Liz Shea-McCoy, Barbara Loos, and Carlos Servan will air on “Pure Nebraska”:

*	Thursday, October 16 – during the one-hour program beginning at 9:00 a.m.
*	Sunday, October 19 – during the one-hour program beginning at 7:30 a.m.

You can also view the interview online after the broadcast at
👉 Pure Nebraska – 10/11 Now <https://www.1011now.com/community/pure-nebraska/> 


About the Pershing Mural Historic Preservation Project


The Pershing Mural, originally displayed on the façade of Lincoln’s Pershing Auditorium, is one of Nebraska’s most important public artworks. Created in the 1950s by artists Leonard Thiessen and Bill Hammon, the 140-foot-wide mosaic of more than 763,000 ceramic tiles captures Nebraska’s vibrant cultural life—from ballet and sports to parades and opera.

When Pershing Auditorium was slated for demolition in 2021, Liz Shea-McCoy, Major General (ret.) Roger Lempke, and Tim Kenny formed the Pershing Mural Historic Preservation Committee. Through a remarkable grassroots campaign, Nebraskans statewide raised the funds needed to remove, restore, and relocate the mural—preserving this irreplaceable work of art for generations to come.

About the 3-D Tactile Mural

In 2023, Liz Shea-McCoy, Project Chair of the Pershing Mural Historic Preservation Project, received a call from Barbara Loos, a longtime member and leader within the National Federation of the Blind. Barbara expressed a desire to “see” the Pershing Mural through touch.

>From that conversation, a small committee was formed to explore creating a 3-D tactile model of the mural. Working for more than a year with John Olson of 3D Photoworks, the team brought the idea to life.

As Barbara later reflected, experiencing art through touch offers a dimension that words alone can’t capture. In the words of Ed Wood, one of  the model makers of the World Trade Center, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, a model is worth a million.”

The project was supported and funded by the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCBVI). Installed in May 2025, the tactile mural now allows visitors to explore Nebraska’s art through touch and sound—featuring Braille, bilingual audio prompts, and interactive sensors describing the mural’s 38 figures. It is the only 3-D tactile mural on permanent display in Nebraska.

Today, visitors to the Nebraska History Museum can experience the details, history, and spirit of the Pershing Mural in a truly inclusive way. 

Additional background information about the Pershing Mural is attached for those who wish to learn more or share with others.

 

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