TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Artist Stan Herd is again on the Kansas Museum of History after practically 40 years.
“I jumped in and thought ‘this has to not less than look higher than that mural,’” Herd stated.
He first painted a mural on the museum again in 1988 to spotlight the Eighteen Eighties. Now, he’s returned to make use of his paintbrush to showcase one other Kansas period.
“This shall be considered one of my most necessary legacy works, to color my historical past, my household’s historical past and Kansas historical past,” Herd stated.
The mural begins with Topeka’s historic 1966 twister after which flows into the early 70s.
“It’s such a pivotal second on this state’s historical past. {That a} twister attacked the capital metropolis,” Herd stated. “Individuals have been rising lengthy hair, as folks have been moving into the wild music, and as guys have been going off to die. 700 males in Kansas died in Vietnam.”
From visiting historic websites throughout the state to wanting across the museum, Herd has frolicked researching what to placed on the partitions.
“I’m rising myself in simply layers and layer and layers of Kansas historical past.”
Displaying the wealthy historical past of the nationwide influence of Kansas was one of many herd’s objectives with the mural. Museum leaders say that is precisely what they have been on the lookout for.
“We’re within the heart of this nation, but so many issues and concepts feed by way of right here and so it’s thrilling to get to spotlight so a lot of these Kansans, each well-known and on a regular basis, who make up the historical past,” Museum Director Sarah Bell stated.
“An important factor is that Kansas has you understand, as William Allen White stated, ‘As Kansas so goes, as goes the nation,’” Herd stated. “So we’re not backwater right here”.
The official reopening date of the museum is November 22, 2025.
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