Exhibits:

Plains beadwork encompasses the relationships of technique, design, color and dimension.

Some of the most beautiful and diverse examples of Native American beadwork comes from the tribes of the Great Plains. Historic tribal beadwork was affected by tradition, society, art, religion, economic conditions, environment and influences from other cultures.

Today Native American beadwork is still a strong and living tradition. The exhibit features selections from the permanent collection that depict Native American beadwork, historical examples from the University of Nebraska State Museum Anthropology Division, and examples from contemporary Native American artists working in the tradition today.

"Male lazuli, indigo and hybrid buntings" by Allison Johnson.

An exhibition of photographs, drawings, paintings, and Darwinian materials guest curated by Paul A. Johnsgard. Artists included are Paul A. Johnsgard, Linda R. Brown, Josef Kren, Allison Johnson and Stephen Johnson. Johnsgard is foundation professor emeritus of biological sciences at UNL and author of 50 books on natural history, including "The Niobrara: A River Running through Time" and "Prairie Dog Empire: a Saga of the Shortgrass Prairie." Celebrating Darwin's Legacy is a traveling exhibit that began at the Great Plains Art Museum.

Morrill Hall's very first mountain lion has been installed in the Niobrara Diorama in the Hall of Nebraska Wildlife. Thanks to the devoted fundraising efforts of the Friends of the State Museum, the Museum was able to complete the first stage of renovation of the Niobrara Diorama. The new star of the scene, of course, is the mountain lion that was graciously transferred to the State Museum by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission under the auspices of the Nebraska Mountain Lion Response Plan.

Explore Evolution web pages » | Press Release »

Explore Evolution is a major new partnership forged between science museums and 4-H organizations to bring current research on evolution to the public. The project features the work of scientists who are making leading discoveries about the evolution of life. From rapidly evolving HIV to whales that walked, the public is invited to explore evolution in organisms ranging from the very smallest to the largest.